With all the information out there today, you’re probably already pretty sun savvy. You’ve invested in a good, chemical-free sunblock with and SPF of at least 30, you avoid intense-sun hours between 10 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and you wear wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves. However, the sun has ways of creeping up on you in situations you may not have been aware of. Whether you’re going through cancer treatments-or just want to avoid skin cancer in general-check out the following five ways you may be inadvertently harming your skin.
- Driving in a car without sunscreen. Your car protects you, right? After all, you don’t get bugs in your teeth when you drive! Still, though windshields usually reflect UVA and UVB rays, the other windows protect you only against UVB-leaving the UVA to come right on in on your left cheek, neck, and arm. Researchers reported in 2007 that drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel end up with more left-sided skin cancers. “Our initial data shows that those individuals under age 70 who consistently spent the most time per week driving a car were more likely to develop left-sided skin cancers,” said dermatologist Dr. Scott Fosko. Tinting windows and UV filters help reduce your exposure to rays. If you don’t have either of these on your car, use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and use the visor.
- Neglecting your part. There’s one part of the body most of us forget to protect-our heads. It’s tough to see up there. In all the fuss over our hair, we forget there’s skin underneath, and oftentimes, particularly if we part the hair, we’re exposing that skin to the sun. (It’s even worse if hair is thinning.) Research shows that melanoma on the scalp or neck is twice as deadly as melanoma anywhere else. Be wise. Wear a hat, alter your part on a regular basis, and wear spray-on sunscreen. Since your hair can be sunburnt too (and frizz out), you’ll be doing yourself a double favor.
- Trusting the shade. Get out of the sun, you’re safe, right? Not necessarily. If you’re on the beach or in a boat, sun reflects off water and sand to bounce up and hit your skin. Even if the sky is overcast, UV rays still penetrate. “Cloud formations,” says Jim Miller, a senior meteorologist at the National Meteorological Center, “don’t do a good job of blocking UVR, so you’re likely to receive full sun exposure.” Don’t rely on the temperature, either. According to Kerry O’Hare of the Cancer Council in Washington, cool days can still carry high UV radiation. Wear sunscreen!
- Buying in bulk. We all want to save money, so it’s tempting to buy sunscreen in bulk. The experts at lifetips.com warn you to resist-as sunscreen ages, its effectiveness can weaken. Typical shelf-life is two years, but check yours for an expiration date. A good rule of thumb is to throw out last year’s bottles at each new summer season.
- Applying incorrectly. Do you know that most experts advise you to apply sunscreen, then wait 15-30 minutes before going outside? We’re willing to bet most of you apply and go. What’s wrong with that? Well, the active ingredients need time to penetrate the skin, so if you go out right away, you may not be fully protected. Be prepared and apply early-and often. The American Academy of Science recommends every two hours. If you’re sweating, exposed to water, or noticing your skin getting pink, apply again no matter how long it’s been. Research in England suggests for optimal protection, apply, wait 15-30 minutes, then apply again before going outside.
Can you think of other ways we leave our skin unintentionally exposed to the sun? Let us know!
Photo courtesy of Snap Village.
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