In my early teens, 20s and even into my 30s, I never really took my skin too seriously. Yes, it covered my innards very well and got the job done and made me look good! I did get the random sunburn here and there, suffered for a day or two, and went on without another thought about it. Well, now moving into my 40s, my life of wanton destruction is becoming more and more apparent. Living on the beach and aging along has opened my eyeballs about sun damage. It is nothing to laugh about. We all love our time in the sun and to a certain extent that Vitamin D factor radiating down upon us is good, but too much of a good thing is bad. I had a chance to sit down with my dermatologist, Dr. Rebecca Campen of Campen Dermatology, and she was kind enough to take the time to fill me in on sun damage to the skin. This lady is smart! She is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a major in mathematics. In 1981, she entered law school at UGA and graduated in 1983. She entered Medical School at the Medical College of GA during that same year and graduated in 1989. She completed a residency in dermatology at the Medical College of GA in 1991. She has more studying and teaching accolades to her credit, and not to disabuse that, but I want to get to the nitty gritty. You must protect yourself from the sun! Especially here in Savannah/Tybee, an SPF of 30 is best when you are out and about around town. When you are at the beach, 45-50 is best. Nothing below 30 is strong enough. You need to reapply every couple of hours, but more often if you are in and out of the water, and additionally, you can get skin damage from the sun’s reflection from both the sand and the water. There is no waterproof SPF, but only water resistant. Think of yourself as your cell phone - you can dunk it and survive, but you hang out long enough and it is not going to work anymore. Everybody has different skin types. For us fair skinned people, we are way more at risk than a darker pigmented skinned person. Darker skin does provide some protection, but is not fool proof. Melanoma is not biased. A lot of people do not realize they are getting too much sun; especially those of us doing outdoor activities like golfing, yard work, etc. There is sun protective clothing available, and hats and sunglasses are a must, no matter what you are doing. You should get a yearly exam at least once a year with self exams every month. If you are a moley mole like me, you need to really keep an eye on those and contact a dermatologist immediately if you see anything funky about a mole: a lopsided appearance or a jagged border, color changes, growth changes, and bleeding or itching. Early detection is HUGE and can save your hide. Literally. Another thing we never think about is driving. That two hour drive to Jacksonville - did you wear sunscreen on your left arm and face? I bet you didn’t because it didn’t occur to you. Well, there is a huge influx of people suffering from a variety of skin cancers on their left side. Your window may have a tint on it, but that sun still gets in and can fry deeper in the skin that what you will see on the outside. Also, if you are on certain medications, they can make you more susceptible to sunburn. It is imperative that you read your meds and see if you are more at risk than usual. Do not forget your kids! Use the sunscreen made for children and be overzealous with it. If your child is under 6 months, keep them out of the sun altogether. Remember the sun and water reflects sunlight. If you or your children do get sunburned, apply cool compresses and soothing, unscented moisturizers. An oral anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce inflammation, and a one percent over-the-counter cortisone cream can also be helpful. Stay out of the sun for several days. See your doctor if there are severe blisters or if you develop a fever or chills. Be smart about what you are doing in the sun and what level of protection you are using. Whether you are one year old or 85 years old, you are susceptible to a sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer. And remember, excessive sun exposure can lead to premature skin aging. If you have concerns about something on your skin, go see a dermatologist. If you ignore it, the odds are good it will not go away. I highly recommend Dr. Rebecca Campen. For an appointment, please call Campen Dertmatology at 912-356-3604. (On a side note, I did not quote verbatim Dr. Campen, but broadly covered the items we discussed. Dr. Campen has reviewed this article for anything I have misstated. Any errors are entirely mine). TYBEE GLASS SERVICE 40 years experience, licensed and insured 912-659-3358 TybeeGlassService.com TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JUNE 2017 37 AND MORE! 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