May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and as we approach longer days and summer weather, there is no better time for a reminder that making sunscreen a daily habit is one of the best ways to protect your skin.
SPF Spray vs. Lotion
Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is essential, and proper application of sunscreen is key. Many opt for spray sunscreens for their convenience, but they can often provide a false sense of security. Whether it’s not spraying enough or achieving an even application, the effectiveness can be compromised. Even with “no-rub” varieties, it’s best to ensure thorough coverage by rubbing the spray into the skin. In contrast, lotions offer a more reliable method of protection. While they may take a bit longer to apply, the process allows for better control over coverage. By spreading lotion evenly across the skin, you can ensure every exposed area is adequately protected. In the battle against sun damage, the extra effort of applying lotion sunscreen correctly can make all the difference in safeguarding your skin’s health.
Sun Protection & Skin Cancer
Here’s a surprising skin fact: Even though putting on sunscreen daily is pretty easy, most people don’t bother. A whopping 69.1 percent of women and 85.7 percent of men don’t wear sunscreen when they’ll be outdoors for more than an hour, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatologists.
Those numbers are troubling. Cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have been rising for the past 30 years. It’s estimated that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. And it can happen to anyone.
“People usually get more sun than they realize,” says Dr. Arisa Ortiz, a dermatologist at University of California, San Diego. “It’s important to wear sunscreen every day.”
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Ortiz, who prefers sunscreen with SPF 30, says it’s important to apply enough – a shot glass full for your face and exposed skin.
Rodan + Fields includes an easily blended sunscreen in each of its Regimens, formulated for your specific skin needs: Redefine, Reverse, Unblemish and Soothe, as well as the essential Face + Body Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, and Lip Shield SPF 25. Additionally our Foaming Sunless Tan provides even, natural-looking color safely without sun.
Three myths about sun protection and skin cancer:
- Darker-skinned people don’t have to worry about skin cancer.
Amelia St. Ange, a medical student from Santa Lucia, is Afro-Caribbean with deep golden-brown skin. From age 11, she was an avid tennis player, spending hours every weekend on a sunny court. When a mole on her neck started hurting, she was shocked to learn it was melanoma.
“The biggest surprise is that I was black,” says St. Ange. “Darker skinned women feel we’re immune to UV rays because of the melanin. But I wanted to tell people you’re not invincible.”
Doctors removed her mole and luckily the cancer didn’t spread. After that scare, St. Ange started wearing large hats and sunscreen every day. She tells others to do the same, and recommends mixing sunscreen with body lotion you use every day.
Hispanic and Asian women need to take note too: a 2015 study Ortiz co-authored found women in those ethnic groups were at greater risk for skin cancer than men.
- It takes years of sun damage before skin cancer develops.
While older white men are most likely to get skin cancer, younger people need to watch out. Melanoma is the leading cause of cancer death among women 20 to 35, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
“I see women who used to go to tanning salons,” says Ortiz. “They’re in their late 20s and early 30s, which is relatively young for skin cancer. But I’m seeing basal cell skin cancer and they’re getting it on their face.”
- You only need sunscreen on sunny days or when you’re outside for hours.
“People usually equate sun exposure with going to the beach, but you get a lot of sun even if you’re just driving,” says Ortiz. “You should apply it every day in the morning whether you think you’re going to be outdoors or not.”
Even on a cloudy day, sitting by a window in the office, on the train or in an airplane exposes you to harmful ultraviolet rays. And did you know UV rays are more potent when you’re in flight since you’re so much closer to the sun?
“The more time you spend outdoors the more you put yourself at risk, but if you protect your skin, you’ll be alright,” says Ortiz, who recommends that patients use a sunless tanner if they want a bronze glow. “Just remember there’s no such thing as a healthy sun .”
