As warmer weather approaches we like to spend more time outdoors in the sun, which puts our skin at risk for pre-mature aging and skin cancer. The good news is daily application of sunscreen can help lower your risk for skin cancer and help protect your skin from looking older before its time.

Sunscreens work by absorbing, reflecting or scattering the sun’s rays on the skin. When applying sunscreen make sure all exposed areas of the skin are treated. Don’t forget your ears, hands and scalp if needed. For optimum protection sunscreen should be applied at least one-half hour before sun exposure. If outdoors for a prolonged period of time it is recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours for maximum protection.

For year-round protection the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Here in Colorado I recommend using a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 for everyone.

How is the SPF in sunscreen determined? It is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. The higher the SPF number, the greater protection you receive.

The bottom line is sunscreen needs to be applied everyday, 365 days a year. It doesn’t matter what your skin type is or ethnicity, everyone needs to use sunscreen to minimize the risk of skin cancer and help prevent sun-induced, pre-mature aging.

Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center carries IMAGE Skincare. They offer several different sunscreen formulas to suit your specific skin type. The IMAGE Skincare philosophy focuses on prevention and protection. Call today to schedule your free consultation and skin analysis.