Tips From a Dermatologist for Summer 2020

Summer fun means summer sun - even as we all try to stay socially safe this year. Summer sun comes by way of UV rays (ultraviolet light) which can cause include early wrinkling, sunburn, and skin cancer. Follow these 5 simple steps to help better protect yourself and your family, while still having a great time in the sun.

#1 -- Take Sun Protection Steps, Every Day: Try to put your sunscreen on at least 30 minutes before you go out to give it a chance to penetrate your skin. Make sure your sunscreen has an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30. The most common mistakes made with sunscreens? Not using the required 2 ounces needed to cover your whole body, not reapplying that full 2 ounces needed every 90 minutes (more often if sweating or swimming), and forgetting the skin around your eyes (a common spot for skin cancer).

#2 -- Look out for Skin Cancer Signs: There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. The fellow in the photo above has a melanoma on his forehedad. Though all types of skin cancer are visible, skin cancers still take the lives of two Americans every hour. Don't let a possible cancer on your skin or that of a loved one go unnoticed. Be concerned if any mole or lesion has any of the ABCDEs, meaning it has Asymmetry (not a perfect circle), irregular Borders (jagged edges), changing Colors over time, Diameter (size) greater than the end of a pencil, or is Evolving (changing) over time. If you notice anything concerning, go to the Skin Cancer Foundation web site at SCF.org for helpful photos and their “Find a Dermatologist” tab.

#3 -- Remember the Children in your Family: Even kids can develop sun damage and skin cancer at young ages, especially those prone to sunburns. The National Cancer Institute reports that about 2,000 people younger than 21 develop melanoma skin cancer every year in the U.S., including 250 kids younger than 12. The youngest patient in my own practice with a melanoma (the most deadly type of skin cancer) was a ten-year-old boy with a dark, changing mole on his back. Fortunately, his mom brought him in before it had spread internally, and I was able to remove it in the office.

#4 – Check your Annual Dermatologist Check-up off your List: Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Be sure to see a Board-certified Dermatologist every year for a skin exam so they can find concerning moles, treat pre-cancerous growths before they become cancer (early detection saves lives!), and help keep you healthy. You can find a Dermatologist in your neighborhood by going to the American Academy of Dermatology website, AAD.org. Simply plug your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab. If you live in Memphis or the surrounding areas, give our office a call for an appointment! (901-753-0168) We’ve been serving Memphis for 28 years. Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates PC. 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova. (901) 753-0168.

The cream below - GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream - is an anti-wrinkle moisturizer developed by the Woodbury family of four Dermatologists over 30 years - now available through www.Bigriversilkskincare.com. 1-901-753-0168