A recent American Academy of Dermatology study revealed that the majority of people in the United States fail to regularly wear sunscreen. South Jersey dermatologist Dr. Robin Levin warns against failure to properly protect skin against damaging UV radiation from the sun.
Dr. Robin Levin, the board-certified dermatologist behind South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center, regularly encourages her patients to wear sunscreen every day. She sees (and can frequently repair) the damage done by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, but the best way to ensure smooth, uniform, healthy skin is to keep it from getting burned in the first place. Light from the sun can promote the formation of wrinkles, cause red marks and other pigmentation problems, and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
That’s why the head of South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center was discouraged to see the results of a study publicized just before the start of summer by the American Academy of Dermatology, which noted that more than two-thirds of women and far more than three quarters of men in the United States reported the irregular use of sunscreen on their exposed skin, both face and body. In fact, almost half of the men who responded to the study said they never wear sunscreen on their face. This is a trend that spans America, including South Jersey. Skin care, including UV protection, is vital to guarding against damage that can lead not just to aesthetic, but also medical problems, which explains interest in the topic from another organization: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The demographic data behind this report came from a 2013 survey asking Americans about their sunscreen use when they’re in the sun for longer than an hour. The numbers that caught the team’s eye at South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center were compiled by CDC researchers who also found that 42.6 percent of the women using sunscreen reported applying it only to their faces, as opposed to 34.4 percent applying it to other exposed skin on their bodies. Men actually were better at slathering sunscreen on more than just their face, but their overall numbers were much worse: 19.1 percent for the body vs. 18.1 for the face.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone apply a body-covering, minimum-30-SPF sunscreen about 15 minutes before heading out into the sun, and then every two hours after that—or more often if the protection is washing off due to water or sweat. The sunscreen should cover any and all exposed skin. Don’t forget any visible scalp, your ears, your legs, and the tops of your feet. South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center can recommend products for your specific skin type and lifestyle.
The Academy also notes that sunscreen alone isn’t necessarily everything your skin needs in the way of protection. Consider staying in the shade, wearing skin-covering long sleeves or pants, and otherwise shielding yourself from UV rays, both direct and reflected off of water or snow.
The fact remains, though, that one in every five U.S. citizens will develop some form of skin cancer at some point in his or her life, which will certainly necessitate a visit to a practice such as South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center. Though there are certain risk factors that increase a person’s chance of developing a skin cancer, anyone can get the disease.
With that in mind, the staff at South Jersey Skin Care & Laser Center and other practices do more than share prevention tips. Dr. Levin, for instance, works with her team to diagnose skin cancers, develop recommended treatment plans, remove cancers as soon as possible, and offer follow-up care.
South Jersey Skin Care & Laser’s team also encourages annual full body skin examinations, which can help in the detection and early removal of cancerous growths.
When it comes time for skin cancer removal, long-term health is obviously the goal, but that doesn’t mean patients can’t also take their appearance into account. South Jersey Skin Care’s Dr. Levin encourages efforts to minimize scarring, preserving healthy skin while removing the cancerous tissue.
