Here Comes the Sun

Spring has arrived in Cary and with warmer weather and longer daylight we will be exposed to more sun.  while sun brings happiness and helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, it also cna bring sunburn and eventually wrinkles and skin cancer.  Protection from the sun is important and comes in several forms.

Sun protective clothing - Hats with broad brims and clothing with a high UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) physically block ultraviolet rays from touching our skin.  Currently these products are widely available.  Several online companies offer a variety of hats and sun shirts.  They include Solumbra, Coolibar and Sunday Afternoon.  Local retailers also carry excellent hats and long sleeved sun shirts.

Sunscreen - The US environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 90 percent of all non melanoma skin cancers are caused by the sun.  Ultraviolet radiation from both the sun and tanning beds is a known cause of cancer in humans.  Photoaging  (wrinkles, brown spots, sagging and leathery skin)  is also a result of sun exposure over time.    Regular application of sunscreen  has  been shown to decrease the risk of sunburn.  Only sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher can claim to decrease photoaging and skin cancer.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 min prior to sun exposure.  In routine daily activity where there is no extended outdoor exposure, applying sunscreen once in the morning is sufficient as long as there is no sweating.  Otherwise sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.

Cary Dermatology offers a variety of sunscreens.  Some are tinted, some very light for acne prone skin.  A new product in our sunscreen line up is BU a spray on sunscreen that is easy to use and great for sensitive skin.