Dare to Bare Your Summer Skin! 3322 It’s that time of year again, when Floridians spend most of their days enjoying their outside spaces! Whether you enjoy morning runs on Bayshore, afternoons at the beach or by the pool, or all-day boating trips with your family and friends, don’t forget your sun protection! In Florida, we know what to expect during the summer months: 90 degree temperatures, 100% humidity, the occasional sun shower, and the 15 minute deluge that always seems to happen during rush hour! What we don’t expect is that all of that heat and humidity can wreak havoc on your skin. Here are a few myths we have all heard (…and probably believed, at some point!): “I only have to apply sunscreen once to be protected all day!” “If I use sunscreen, I won’t be able to tan!” “It says ‘sweatproof’ and ‘waterproof,’ so I should be ������������ “I don’t need sunscreen when it’s cloudy!” Let’s be clear, we’ve all made these mistakes, and using sunscreen is only part of the solution. We are potentially exposed to three different types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, including UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Fortunately, UV-C is blocked by the atmosphere, so unless you are in the Chilean Andes and the hole in the ozone layer has �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� like deepen your skin tone while also doing negative things like promote premature signs of aging such as wrinkles or cause sunburns, and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. The best forms of sun protection involve limiting your exposure to damaging UV radiation while blocking the UV rays that reach your skin from causing damage. Wearing protective items like large hats and loose- ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Sunscreens should be ‘broad-spectrum,’ meaning that they are effective protection for both UV-A and UV-B radiation, with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or greater, which only allows 1/30th (or less, with higher SPFs) of the sun’s damaging rays to reach the skin surface. Also, remember to reapply sunscreen regularly, throughout the day, as words like ‘sweatproof’ and ‘waterproof’ are purely marketing terms that are not accurate, as any sunscreen can easily be wiped off with a towel! Finally, even on cloudy days, up to 80% of damaging UV rays can still reach your skin, so don’t forget the sun protection! Skin damage isn’t permanent, but preventative care is always better than dealing with the negative consequences that can add up over time. If you already have evidence of sun damage such as age spots or early wrinkles, a chemical peel is an excellent treatment by Raquel Gibson and Dr. Deepak Naidu
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