Florida is known for sunshine, but this doesn’t mean that you should leave your skin unprotected! It is no surprise that Floridians spend a lot of time outdoors, which makes it even more important that the skin is protected against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer today, and learning more about how to keep the skin healthy and reduce one’s risk of cancer is at the forefront of our minds at Harris Dermatology.
Fort Myers and Naples, FL area patients who are looking to educate themselves on how to prepare their skin for sun exposure can read on for recommendations from Drs. Brian Harris, H. Ross Harris, and Keith Harris:
- Keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. Drinking plenty of water and using high-quality moisturizers can help nourish the skin and keep it hydrated. This is especially important if you spend any amount of time outdoors as sun-exposed skin can become drier—and more susceptible to ultraviolet ray damage.
- Eat right. A nutritious diet is appropriate for many reasons, but it can also help nourish the skin. Eating foods rich in carotenoids, antioxidants, and Vitamin E should be top priority during the summer months to prevent and delay cell damage and protect the skin against UV rays.
- Exfoliation. Exfoliation of the skin is important, just be sure to avoid exfoliating procedures at least three days prior to any extensive sun exposure as it can leave the skin more sensitivity.
- Sunblock. Patients should wear sunblock on all exposed skin every day to protect against the sun’s UV rays. Even if you’re just walking to and from the office building to your car every day at work, you need to use sunblock with a high SPF and one that offers broadband protection.
Are you looking forward to sunny days and sunshine this summer?
Don’t forget to protect your skin from skin cancer to ensure healthy outdoor time! At Harris Dermatology, we welcome new and established patients to consult with our team to not only protect their skin during outdoor activities, but to have annual skin cancer assessments and screenings done. With early detection, many patients who develop skin cancer have a fighting chance at remission!