Protecting Your Skin From the Sun: 7 Essential Skin Cancer Prevention Tips

We’ve entered the summer months, and many people are flocking to the beach to enjoy the sunshine. Spending time outdoors is fun and can be healthy, but not protecting your skin year-round leads to sun damage — including skin cancer, premature wrinkles, sun spots, and uneven skin tone.

The good news is, you can prevent sun damage by taking sensible precautions when you’re outside. Dermatologists Jeffrey Petersen, MD, FAAD, and Shivani Tripathi, MD, FAAD, from Missouri Dermatology Laser & Vein Center in Fenton, Chesterfield, and O’Fallon, Missouri, recommend taking these seven steps to protect your skin.

1. Apply sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen daily on every exposed part of your body is essential to minimizing sun damage. The sun’s rays can damage your skin even when it’s cloudy or raining outside.

For maximum protection, choose broad spectrum sunscreen with as high of a UV protection level as possible. Water-resistant sunscreen helps you maintain protection when you swim or sweat.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or right away if you’ve perspired or been in the water. At the beginning of every season, check to see if your sunscreen from last year has expired. If so, replace it.

2. Choose sunglasses with sun protection

Not all sunglasses are created equal in terms of sun protection. Some sunglasses are only cosmetic and don’t offer any protection against harmful rays.

Choose sunglasses that indicate they protect against UVA and UVB on their packaging. In addition, larger and wraparound sunglasses protect a larger portion of your face.

3. Wear a hat

Combined with wearing sunscreen and sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat further helps protect your face, ears, and neck from the sun. The most protective hats surround your whole head with a minimum 2-inch brim.

4. Pick UV-protective clothing

Different clothes provide different levels of UV protection, and some clothing offers very little. The most protective clothing tends to be darker-colored and tightly-woven, which keeps the sun’s rays from peeking through the fabric.

Long sleeves, pants, and skirts also help protect your limbs more fully. You can even buy clothing with labels that lists a UV protection level, similar to sunscreen bottles. 

5. Stay in the shade

The more you stay in the shade outdoors, the less your skin will be exposed to the sun. If there’s no natural shade in your area, consider bringing a protective shelter, like an umbrella or a tent.

6. Remain inside at the sunniest times of day

The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. As much as possible, stay indoors or in shaded areas outside during midday.

7. Don’t use tanning beds

Indoor tanning beds and lamps are just as dangerous for your skin as sitting directly in the sun for long periods. Get a spray tan or use an at-home self-tanner to get the same golden glow without the risks.

The best protection against skin cancer and other sun damage is prevention, but if you’ve previously spent too much time in the sun and are suffering from the effects, our team can help. Contact us to make an appointment.