Summertime Skin Care Tips from the American Academy of Dermatology

With all of the time you are spending outside this summer, it is so important to take steps that can help reduce your risk of skin cancer. Your chances of getting skin cancer can be greatly reduced if you follow these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology:

Try to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days.

Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long sleeved shirt and pants.

Wear a 4 inch wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, even when walking short distances.

Stay in the shade whenever possible.

Avoid reflective surfaces, which can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun’s damaging rays.

Protect children by keeping them out of the sun, minimizing sun exposure and applying sunscreens beginning at 6 months of age.

If you notice a change in the size, shape, or appearance of a mole, see a dermatologist.

NOTE: Give your skin a drink. Those eight glasses of water a day your mom always told you to be sure to drink are essential to maintaining your skin's elasticity and suppleness, say experts. Of course, drinking tap water is usually a little like drinking poision. If you care about the quality of your water, use a good water filtration system like Aquasana and don't count coffee or any of the caffeinated sodas as part of the eight glasses because caffeine is dehydrating.