Summer Skin Care

by Jean C. Buhac, M.D.
Dermatologist, Saratoga Springs

June 28, 2001 Jewish World Health Special

Summer activities like swimming and tennis, even reading a good book, all are ways to get outside and enjoy the warm sun. It is important to protect your skin throughout the year and especially during the next few months.

The first step is to know your skin and the ABCDs of skin cancer. Sun exposure is responsible for 90 percent of all skin cancers, so you need to know your skin in order to pick up any changes in moles, discolorations or sores that do not heal.

As for the ABCDs:
A. Stands for asymmetry. Is one-half of a mole different from the other half?
B. means border. Does a mole have a jagged, blurred or notched edge?
C. stands for color. Are there color variations, like tan, brown or red and blue?
D. stands for diameter. Is the mole larger than a pencil eraser?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions or if you have noticed a sudden change in appearance or size, have your skin evaluated by a dermatologist.

The Sun as enemy
When it comes to preventing skin cancer, blocking the sun's rays is the only way.

There are many myths:
Many believe that a base tan, like the one from a tanning booth, will spare you. Radiation from tanning beds creates the same dangers as natural light; also it speeds up the skin's ageing process, leading to dry, leathery skin. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

While people with fair skin and blue eyes need to be especially careful, all skin types are susceptible to burning, peeling and skin cancer.

Certain fabrics like tight weaves and reflective materials offer protection, but that disappears when these fabrics get wet. You can still burn while swimming in a tee shirt.

Also, cloud cover is not the same as being indoors or in the shade of a good umbrella. Burning rays penetrate clouds and can be more dangerous because you do not feel hot, a factor which motivates us to escape the sun.

Check labels for . . .
A good sun screen, a hat and a spot in the shade are your best defense against the sun. But not all sun screens are created equally. Select one that has a minimum SPF, or sun protection factor, of 30 or higher.

Apply sun screen 15 to 30 minutes before exposure and reapply often, particularly after strenuous exercise and swimming. Be sure not to miss any spots especially areas like the back of your neck and legs. Spray sun screens may be convenient but getting coverage may be difficult.

It is important to use sun screen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for ingredients like oxybenzone, titanium oxide and zinc oxide.

You can enjoy the look of tanned skin by using sunless tanning cream. Besides giving you a natural-looking tan, these new lotions moisturize, and some offer sun protection as well.