When is the Best Time to Protect Your Skin?

Sunny warm days are here. It’s time to protect your skin from the damage the sun can do when you’re in the garden, by the pool or just while you are out and about.

“Even minimal direct sun exposure over time can damage your skin, ranging from premature aging to serious skin cancers,” says Dr. Sunil Dhawan, a Fremont dermatologist certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Dermatology and adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine - Stanford University.

Dr. Dhawan will explain how to enjoy outdoor fun while protecting your skin at a Saturday, May 16, Washington Health online seminar. The free 10 a.m. program titled “Sun: Beauty or Beast?” can be viewed on YouTube at YouTube.com/@Washington_Health. For those who miss the live presentation, the video will also be added to the Washington Health library of videos featuring health care experts.

“We may admire healthy-looking bronze skin, but a tan isn’t necessarily a sign of good health,” Dr. Dhawan says. “It’s important to take the simple and easy steps that can protect your skin all day, every day.”

Wear hats and loose clothing that covers the exposed areas of your skin, he says. Avoid the sun during the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and avoid tanning, sunburns and tanning booths. Always use a mineral-based sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.

Dr. Dhawan will explain in detail how the sun damages the skin and which skin types are more susceptible to skin cancer. “Skin cancer can occur in all types of skin,” he emphasizes, “so it’s important to keep your skin covered whenever you are out in the sun.”

He will discuss which types of sunscreen provide the most protection and he recommends using sunscreens that contain minerals like titanium or zinc oxide. “Mineral-based sunscreens block the sun’s rays more effectively than other sunscreens,” he says. Refresh sunscreen every three to five hours.

In addition to daily protection and annual skin examinations by a physician or dermatologist, Dr. Dhawan recommends monthly self-examinations for individuals in a high-risk group (determined by skin type, prior experience, family history). He will explain what to look for during the monthly self-examinations, which he labels an “Early Warning System.” Any suspicious growth should be reported without delay to one’s doctor.

Be vigilant, he says. “Watch for any area that shows signs of being abnormal such as itching, burning, bleeding or not healing. Keep covered, keep using sunscreen, and keep examining yourself so that any damage can be spotted early and treated quickly,” he adds.

To view, “Sun: Beauty or Beast?” visit the Washington Health YouTube channel, YouTube.com/@Washington_Health.