The Next Time You Put Sunscreen, Don’t Forget These Spots
Spending time outside in the sun is great
for your mental and physical health. Health experts say that soaking in
the sun outdoors doesn’t just get you a good dose of vitamin D, it also
helps reduce stress and keeps you physically active.
As summer hits its peak, many of us will be
heading out a little more to spend some time in the sun, albeit with
precautions because of the pandemic.
Now, we don't need to remind you to apply sunscreen lotion on your body
during the summer season to protect your skin from the harmful rays of
the sun. Sunscreens are great. They filter or screen the sun's
ultraviolet (UV) rays and prevent sunburn and even skin cancer. The
sun’s UV rays are the major cause of skin cancer and doctors say that
sunscreens are a terrific tool to decrease your risk of skin cancers and
skin pre-cancers. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that daily use of
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 sunscreen can reduce your risk of
developing certain types of skin cancers by about 40 percent, and lower
your melanoma risk by 50 percent. They can also help prevent premature
skin aging caused by the sun.
However, while you may be slathering your
skin with sunscreen, are you sure you are protecting all the critical
parts of your body? Usually, we tend to apply sunscreen lotion on our
face, hands, arms, legs, and chest. But dermatologists say that there
are some common portions on our bodies that many people forget to apply
sunscreen to. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. Ears
Research has shown that skin cancer can occur in any part of the ear.
This includes the middle part (also known as the conchal bowl), which is
reasonably protected from the sun. Precancerous abrasions too are
commonly found in this area. So even if you are wearing a hat or a
baseball cap while being out in the sun, your ears might be exposed.
Make sure to thoroughly cover the top, back, and middle parts of the
ears with sunscreen. This is particularly essential for people with
shorter hair as their ears have higher chances of being exposed to the
sun.
2. Eyelids
Dermatologists say that eyelids are possibly the most overlooked when it
comes to sun protection. It’s estimated that almost 3% of all skin
cancers develop here. You can, of course, protect your eyelids in summer
by wearing sunglasses. But what if you forgot them? Or what if you fall
asleep on the beach without them? That can be dangerous as your eyelids
can get severely burned. Experts recommend getting an
ophthalmologist-approved SPF 30 lotion and applying it gently on this
delicate area.
3. The tops of your feet
While the soles of our feet are protected
against the sun’s ultraviolet light with a thick layer of dead skin
cells, the top part tends to be highly exposed during the summer season
as many of us prefer to wear sandals, flip flops, or skin-bearing
footwear when out instead of shoes. And that’s one part that often gets
neglected when we are putting on sunscreen. So if you don’t want to have
a nasty red and painful sunburn on the top of your feet, or get some
ugly sandal or shoe pattern marks there, always cover the area properly
with sunscreen.
4. Scalp
Your hair does provide a bit of protection from UV rays, but you still
need to be extra careful. Particularly if you have thinning hair or are
bald. Getting a sunburn on your head can be quite painful and annoying
as the scalp begins to peel and it looks like you have a horrible case
of dandruff. It’s hence better to protect yourself by spraying some
sunscreen on the top of your head whenever you plan on being outside for
a long time. Sure, it might make your hair a little greasy and goopy,
but at least you will have that extra layer of protection. You can wear a
hat, of course, but not everyone is comfortable with that.
Dermatologists recommend a gel-based sunscreen to more effectively cover
and protect this area.
5. Around the eyes and the lips
5. Around the eyes and the lips
Apart from protecting your eyelids with
sunscreen, it’s equally important to apply the lotion around the eyes
and lips. These are vulnerable areas and are often neglected while
applying sunscreen as people usually focus on the cheeks, the nose, and
the forehead. But this often leads to cases of fine and ugly lines
around the eyes and the lips in many people after their day out in the
sun.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the majority of lip cancers
appear on the lower lip, and the leading risk factor for it is UV
radiation from the sun. Lip balms with SPF protection should help. Or
simply coat your lips finely with a good sunscreen.
6. The lower leg
The lower part of the leg doesn't sunburn frequently and that’s why it’s
usually the last area that people put sunscreen on or just neglect it.
However, doctors report that a very high rate of skin cancer occurs in
the lower leg. This happens because it tends to get exposed with shorts
and skirts. While rubbing sunscreen on your lower legs, be sure to also
cover the back of your knees as that’s another tender spot that’s
commonly forgotten.
7. Around the armpits
Another place that’s usually overlooked while wearing sunscreen is the
armpits. The folds of skin on the shoulder and arm area surrounding the
armpits are also often forgotten during sunscreen application. But
getting a sunburn there would be a super painful experience as you
wouldn’t be able to even move your hands around comfortably. Even if you
do apply the lotion to your armpits and underarms, it can wear off in
the summer because of sweating. So remember to keep applying sunscreen
to these areas throughout the day.
Bottom Line:
Skin cancers can occur anywhere. Even in the areas that don’t get sun.
So never forget to put a thick layer of sunscreen on all exposed skin
whenever you head out on a hot summer day. If you are outside for a long
time, then it’s important to reapply the lotion about every two hours.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a
broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Also, make sure
you check the sunscreen’s expiration date before using it.