Here’s an essential item we should all stock in our bathrooms and beach bags: a shot glass.
That’s the amount of sunscreen you need to cover your body, according to skin cancer specialist, Dr. Larisa Geskin (Columbia Univ. Medical Center/Columbia Doctors), a recent guest on Fearless Fabulous You!
The glass of whiskey on left is fun but not in the sun. The glass on the right is the right amount of sunscreen for your body.
The only thing I am more mindful about than what I put in my body these days is what I put on it. Sunscreen is the single most important product you need for protection against skin cancer and premature aging.
A little skintelligence: One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. About 90% of non melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation form the sun. On the average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if she has had more than five sunburns. (source: skincancer.org)
Dr. Geskin said no amount of UV exposure is safe for your skin. But, we know staying inside is not the answer. It’s important to be outside and active, and sunlight provides our bodies with vitamin D which is important. Besides, fabulous femmes don’t hide inside. You just need to wear the right sun protection: broad spectrum sunscreen and sunglasses, a hat and a great cover up for your body.
But all sunscreens are not alike. Here is what you need to know when go to buy:
- Look for broad spectrum sunscreen protection against both UVA and UVB rays. 15% SPF is fine but your protection does increase with a higher SPF. Dr. Geskin notes that SPF 15 allows 7% of ultraviolet rays through as compared to 50% that is 1 1/5%. Why not increase your protection to decrease your risk?
- The best ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Dr. Geskin suggests looking for at least 10% of zinc oxide in the sunscreen product.
- Use a full shot glass worth of sunscreen to apply all over your body, including places you forget like tips of ears, back of neck, scalp line, and tops of your hands and feet.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Dr Geskin said when people apply sunscreen they sometimes have a false sense of protection and they don’t reapply it as often as they should.
- Lotion or spray does not matter. Ingredients, the amount applied and the frequency of application do.
- Use sunscreen daily. Ultraviolet rays can penetrate your skin on a cloudy day as much as a sunny one. This includes through windows (car, office or otherwise)
- Tanning is a sign of UV damage. So are freckles. Go for a healthy glow using bronzer or learn to love your skin au natural.
- Anyone can have skin cancer. The color of your skin does not matter. In fact skin cancer can be more aggressive in women of color, usually because it was not detected at an early stage, or appears in areas unchecked like your nail region.
Speaking of your nails: If you have a dark spot that does not go away under your toenail, have it checked out. This could be skin cancer. Skin cancer can appear where the sun doesn’t always shine on your body. It’s important to have an annual full body check for skin cancer by a board certified dermatologist and to monitor your skin on a regular basis.
As for the news that drinking white wine increases your risk for skin cancer…the studies are still be evaluated by dermatologists based on some recent scientific reports. The component in white wine that is the culprit is called acetaldehyde which occurs naturally in white wine (as well as coffee bread and some fruit) and is considered a carcinogen. Acetaldehyde is also the component in alcohol that causes hangovers. If you are drinking in the sun, exercise caution and wear protection.
These items can also make you more sun-sensitive:
- Many medications including antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antidepressants, tetracycline and others. Discuss all medications and risk with your physician and pharmacist.
- Foods: citrus (lime), dill, celery, fennel, parsley.
- Skin care products that contain glycolic acid (AHAs), salicylic acid (BHAs), tretinoins (Retin-A). The worst sunburn of my life was when I was a teenager using Retin-A.
- Perfumed products.
For best results stick with sun protection product without scent and with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. There are some very good tinted options that also provide a little coverage for the face area. One I have discovered that is affordable is called Andalou Beauty Balm (BB) ($17). Another one a bit pricier one is Elta MD Broad Spectrum ($21).
I am trying a few more these seem to provide all the cover I need (in every sense of the word “cover me up”). As for the body, we buy large inexpensive bottles of sunscreen with all the right ingredients.
So grab a shot glass and lather up.
Listen my show with Dermatologist Dr. Larisa Geskin on protecting your skin and Opthomologist Dr. Elizabeth Yeu on protecting your eyes on iHeart.com and the free iHeart App.
