How to Save Your Skin this Summer

More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed last year. One in five Americans will experience some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. While treatable if diagnosed early, it is far better to prevent skin cancer by protecting your skin year round, but especially during the summer months when you spend more time outdoors.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sunscreen
• Daily skin protection routine
• Consistency
• Desire to prevent skin cancer
• Multi-vitamin
• Vitamin D

1. 
    

   Apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 early and often. Slather your skin with a shot glass size gob of sunscreen before you head out for a day in the sun. Reapply the same amount every two to four hours, depending on your activity level. Sweating or swimming will increase the number of times you should reapply and decrease the intervals between applications.

2. 
    

   Protect your face from skin cancer with a daily dose of a SPF infused moisturizer. This should be applied year-round as a base for makeup and should be absorbed fully before makeup is applied. It is better to use the highest SPF moisturizer available to protect sensitive facial skin from sun damage. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Tough Sunblock SPF 100+ is a great choice for a face sunscreen.

3. 
    

   Pay special attention to skin that is exposed to the sun daily and make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen to those exposed areas. This includes hands, ears, arms, neck and feet. If you notice yourself sweating, reapply your sunscreen. Also wear UV blocking sunglasses when you are outside, even if you have applied sunscreen.

4. 
    

   Take 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day (usually sold in 500 milligram tablets). Research shows vitamin C helps the body ward off cancer causing free radicals. Vitamin C also stimulates the body's immune system and improves the overall look of skin. Taking 1,000 mg of vitamin D to promote skin health and ward off cancer, is also recommended by cancer prevention researchers.

Tips & Warnings

• Carry sunscreen in your car's glove box. You never know when you'll need it.
• Kids run, sweat and play more frequently than adults, so it is important to reapply their sunscreen no less than every two hours during outdoor summer play.
• Sunscreen is not a substitute for drinking water and wearing protective clothing when spending prolonged periods outdoors or exposed to the sun (i.e. driving).

Resources

• Skin Cancer Fact Sheet

[-Matthew-]

on 9/22/2009 Great Article!! 5*