I was at the dermatologists last week to have my sunspots looked at.  The Doctor asked me if I’d had a lot of exposure to sun growing up.  If I’d ever blistered from a sunburn.  If I’d ever visited a tanning bed.  If I grew up wearing sunscreen or hats.  Yes, yes, yes and no.

Thus the premature wrinkles and the sunspots on my face, chest, and hands.

But, beauty is not the only reason I so strongly advocate slathering yourself in sunscreen and wearing a hat at the first hint of sunshine.  Health is.

Wrinkles, sunspots, leathery skin – yech!  But much, much worse than this is skin cancer.  And Melanoma.

About 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year. (These are found in about 3.3 million Americans; some people have more than one.) Melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, will account for about 76,380 cases of skin cancer in 2016.

There was a poster up at the Dermatologists about the importance of sunscreen and facts about its application.  Here are a few that really stood out for me:

• Think shot glass (That’s the amount you should be applying to yourself.  Slather!)
• No sunscreen is waterproof.  Reapply after swimming.
• Reapply every 2 hours.
• Apply 15 minutes before heading outside.
• Wear EVERY time you go outside.  Year-round.  Even on cloudy days up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin.
• SPF 30 or higher.
• Skin cancer can form on your lips.  Apply on your lips, also.
• Seek shade.
• Wear protective clothing. Rashguards. Hats. Sunglasses.

 

Remember…there is no safe way to tan.  Every time you tan you speed up the aging process and increase your chances of skin cancer.

For more info on ways to protect yourself from the sun, sunscreen facts, etc. click on this link