We could all use a bit of extra vitamin D, right?
According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, people are spending too much time under the sun and putting themselves at risk of skin cancer. However, your job as a responsible individual doesn’t stop with buying a bottle of sunscreen.
There are a lot of mistakes people make with regards to sunscreen that end up doing more harm than good. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that around 5 million cases of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year! In this blog, we’ll go over a few common sunscreen mistakes that you should avoid at all costs!
Mistake #1: You Only Use Sunscreen when heading out to the Beach
The most widespread misconception regarding sunscreen is that you only need it when you’re going to the beach. However, the sun’s rays still manage to reach you when you’re driving to work or going to visit a friend.
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you step out of your house and make sure you don’t leave any area of your skin exposed to deadly UV rays.
Mistake #2: You’re not using Enough Sunscreen
You shouldn’t be stingy when it comes to self-help. Be generous and apply sunscreen all over your body.
Experts recommend applying at least an ounce if you’re heading out to the beach. Using too little leaves streaks and exposes your skin to danger.
Mistake #3: You Miss Important Spots
You need to do more than just apply sunscreen on your arms, legs, back, and chest. Skin cancer patients often develop the disease on commonly missed areas such as the lips, ears, scalp, and the top of feet.
According to a study published in Plos One, it was found the 20% of participants failed to apply sunscreen on vital areas such as the eyelids. This is hardly surprising considering how the region surrounding the eyelids records the highest rate of skin cancer.
Mistake #4: You Don’t Check the Expiry Date
Let’s face it; we’re all guilty of using the same sunscreen we left in the beach bag last time and don’t even bother checking the expiry date. Expired lotion doesn’t provide the same level of protection because the chemicals become inactive after some time.
Stashing it in the trunk or the glove department all summer has the same effect as the heat causes a breakdown of the active ingredients, dulling the effects of the lotion.
If you’re guilty of one or more of these mistakes, your skin could do with some rejuvenation. Southern Dermatology provides a host of skin rejuvenation treatments in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Contact us today at 770-817-2592 for more information.