5 Sun Protection Tips That Make a Difference

Your skin is your largest organ, and the most likely to develop cancer at some point. Excessive sun exposure can fuel a whole range of problems from all types of skin cancer to increased wrinkles, discoloration, sunburns, and dryness.

Your skin naturally protects itself from the sun’s rays by amping up its melanin production. But it can’t, unfortunately, safeguard you completely from sun-related damage. By adopting smart habits, you can protect your skin and address any problems that arise before it’s too late.

At Life Point Medical, LLC in Clayton, Georgia, Dr. Timothy Scott Beck and his team offer dermatology services to help you care for your skin while screening for potential problems. Read on to learn five ways to lower your risk for such concerns.

1. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily

Whenever you spend time outdoors, any exposed skin should be protected with broad-spectrum sunscreen. This type of sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.

While you’re at it, make sure your sunscreen has an SPF of 15 or higher. And if you’re outside for more than two hours, reapply the lotion. Even if the bottle says “waterproof,” reapplying is important.

2. Avoid high sun hours

Not all sun exposure affects your skin equally. When the sun is particularly high in the sky, the intensified rays can permeate your skin more easily and deeply. Aim to avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 3pm. And if that’s difficult, keep any time you spend in the sun to a minimum.

3. Seek out shade

Regardless of when you spend time outside, shade can be your BFF. Whenever possible, find sitting areas with natural shade from trees or awnings. If you can’t find such coverage, bring your own. A large umbrella or wide-brimmed hats can provide instant shade for you and your loved ones.

4. Protect your eyes and lips

Some of the most delicate tissue on your body is also the most forgotten in terms of sunscreen routines.

Your lips don’t contain any protective melanin, so it’s fully up to you to keep them safe. Lip balm containing sunscreen provides a simple way of attaining that protection while staving off dry and irritated lips at the same time.

Meanwhile, take care of your eyes by wearing quality sunglasses. Just like your skin, your eyes can develop sunburn, dryness, sun spots, cancer, and irritation.

5. Schedule annual skin surveys

Skin cancer is usually very treatable and curable when it’s detected early on. That makes annual skin screenings important, especially if you hold risk factors for skin cancer, such as:

Family or personal history of skin cancer
Light skin and eyes
Plentiful time spent tanning
History of sunburns

During your survey, Dr. Beck looks over your skin to check for signs of cancer and precancerous cells. His expert eyes can detect signs you’d easily miss, including on areas of your skin you can’t easily see.

To learn more about sun protection or get the skincare you need, call Life Point Medical, LLC or request an appointment with Dr. Timothy Scott Beck through our website today.