Due to the high number of patients that I have been seeing lately due to sunburn, I thought that this topic would be a good blog post. It is early summer and we all can't wait to go outdoors to enjoy the summer fun, but please, don't forget your sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, it is important to protect your skin because UV rays can pass through the clouds. Sunscreen is still recommended when you are outdoors but in the shade, as you are exposed through reflection off of other surfaces. Exposure can occur by reflection off of the sand, snow, water and cement. I believe that my worst sunburn was from a ski trip to Snow Shoe Mountain. Boy was that painful! Using two types of protection, shade or clothing plus sunscreen, is the best way to reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. The best type of sunscreen is one that is labeled as broad spectrum, it protects against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB rays. You should apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before exposure. You should reapply sunscreen after sweating, rubbing the skin, drying off with a towel or swimming. Protect your lips with a lip balm containing SPF 30 or higher and reapply frequently. Sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection can reduce risks of cataracts, wraparound glasses provide the most protection. Also, make sure to check the expiration date on your sunscreen to see how long it is valid after opening. For sunscreens that do not have an expiration date, it is recommended to replace it every season. Unfortunately, expired sunscreen may have been the cause of my most recent patient with the "blistered beach body". Hope you all have a wonderful summer, and enjoy the great outdoors, "just don't forget your sunscreen"!!! Melissa D. Roberts, PA-C,
Urgent Virtual Clinic, LLC
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