You're "summer-sun smart" — or so you think. You know it's important to protect your skin from the sun, you have a good stock of sunscreen that's at least 15 SPF, and you never forget to put it on before you step outside. But is that enough? Maybe not, says Quenby Erickson, D.O., Saint Louis University assistant professor of dermatology. People often risk sunburn by not applying it correctly.
“I’ve seen mothers at the park spraying sunblock on babies from too far away to do enough good,” Erickson said in a statement “Others dab on too little to protect themselves adequately from the sun’s rays.
“If you’ve gone to the admirable effort of buying and applying sunscreen, make sure it’s working while you wear it.”
Use the following tips to make sure your sunscreen protects you properly:
• Be generous. Don't skimp. To cover their entire body, adults need the equivalent of a full shot glass of sunscreen. And be sure to cover all skin that’s exposed to the sun, including your ears, the back of your neck, the tops of your feet, and if you're getting sparse on top, the top of your head.
• Apply in time. Always put on sunscreen 30 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun.
• Apply often. Reapply every two hours and after swimming.
• Spray close. Don't hold the bottle at arm's length when spraying someone else. Instead, hold the bottle two or three inches from the skin.
• Rub sunscreen into the skin for the best coverage.
• Check the expiration date. Sunscreen past its prime loses some of its effectiveness. But if you're using the correct amount, you'll empty the bottle before it has time to get old. The average adult should get approximately four uses per bottle.
A word of caution: some scientists are warning that a chemical used in many sunscreens, retinyl palmitate, can actually cause cancer. The FDA is considering labeling changes which are expected to be announced in October. But for now, the American Academy of Dermatology encourages the regular use of sunscreens.
According to skincancer.org., one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by too much sun exposure.
© 2010 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
