The sun is out and summer fun is in full swing. With additional sun exposure summertime brings, it is important to be aware of ways to properly protect and prevent damage to your skin.

While beauty is more than skin deep, we must not neglect our skin—the body’s largest organ. Our skin provides an important barrier and immune protection plus hydration and vitamin-producing functions. Cooper Clinic Preventive and Cosmetic Dermatologist Kejal Shah, MD, FAAD provides her tip to keep your skin glowing long after summer is over.

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  1. Seek Shade

When you’re outdoors for extended periods of time, Dr. Shah recommends seeking shade under trees, umbrellas or other shaded structures whenever possible. It’s especially important between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s harmful UVB rays are the strongest. However, even while in the shade you still receive quite a bit of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolent (UV) rays according to The Skin Cancer Foundation.

  1. Avoid Sunburns

Depending on your skin type, it may feel near impossible to avoid getting a sunburn in summertime. Dr. Shah recommends the following practical ways to prevent sunburn.

  • Wear sunscreen all the time. Apply one ounce—or the equivalent to two tablespoons—of broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
  • Wear a broad-brimmed hat.
  • Wear UV-blocking sunglasses along with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing to help block UV radiation from penetrating the fabric.

Even the glass in your car or home is incapable of completely blocking the penetration of UV radiation. UVA rays penetrate more through the glass than UVB, increasing the risk of skin cancer as well as premature aging. “Consider adding tinted UV-protective film to windows in your car, house and office,” says Shah.

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  1. Refrain From Tanning

UV radiation, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, is a carcinogen. The light used in tanning beds is UVA, which penetrates the skin deeper and causes skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. Using a tanning bed increases your risk of developing:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma by 70 percent
  • Basal cell carcinoma by 30 percent
  • Melanoma by 75 percent (in people who first use a tanning bed before age 35)

Dr. Shah advocates self-tanning products as an ideal alternative if you’re looking to achieve the perfect summer glow. Keep in mind they do not protect your skin from UV rays and should not be a substitute for sunscreen.

  1. Practice Preventive Measures

Using a hand and full-length mirror:

  • Start by examining your face, specifically your nose, lips, mouth and ears.
  • Moving to your scalp, use a blow dryer to expose each section beneath your hair.
  • Check the palms and backs of your hands, not neglecting to check between your fingers and under your fingernails.
  • Continue up your wrists to examine both the front and back of your forearms.
  • Standing in front of the full-length mirror can assist in checking your upper arms and armpits before you conclude with inspecting your neck, shoulders, back and legs.

Dr. Shah encourages you to see a dermatologist annually for a full-body skin examination to identify potential skin problems before they negatively affect your health. Cooper Clinic’s board-certified dermatologists perform a meticulous screening for cancers, pre-cancers and atypical moles. Our highly trained physicians also discuss past sun exposure, sun protection measures and family history of skin cancer in order to best treat and prevent further damage.

For more information or to schedule a comprehensive skin exam at Cooper Clinic Dermatology, visit cooperclinicdermatology.com or call 972.367.6000.