Saving your skin

As the largest organ in your body, your skin works hard for you every day. It is your body’s first layer of defense, protecting you from bacteria, chemicals and other environmental hazards and shielding your organs from injury. Your skin is a master multitasker, but it can always use some personal assistance. These skincare strategies can help keep your skin looking healthy and functioning at its best.

Protect your skin from the sun

Protecting your skin from sun exposure is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of skin cancer, which will impact 1 in 5 people by age 70.

“Prolonged sun exposure causes ultraviolet radiation to break down the collagen and elastin in your skin, leading to wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin,” says Markos Zemede, MD, Saint Agnes Care Internal Medicine Physician. “Excessive sun exposure is also the leading cause of skin cancers like melanoma.”

Though sunlight exposure changes with the seasons, it is still important to monitor the time you spend outside – even on cloudy days. “Ultraviolet levels begin to rise in spring and reach their peak in the summer, so precautions should be the strictest at this time,” says Dr. Zemede. “However, levels still remain moderate through autumn, so don’t forget your sun protection in cooler months.”

Skincare smarts

• Screen the scene. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 on your face, ears, neck and hands. Wear it even if it’s cloudy out. Reapply every two hours and after swimming and using a towel.
• Take cover. Avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are strongest. Also, wear a hat with a broad brim to shade your face and a shirt that covers your shoulders, chest and upper back—places that often get direct sun. “Another great option are clothing items that have UPF sun protection built in,” says Dr. Zemede.
• Switch it up with the seasons. For maximum hydration, use an ointment moisturizer to lock in your skin’s moisture if your skin is dry or you have a skin condition, such as eczema. Otherwise, consider using a lotion in the spring and summer months and switching to a cream or ointment moisturizer in the winter, when there’s naturally less humidity in the air.
• Seal in moisture. During a bath or shower, water accumulates in your skin’s top layer, known as the stratum corneum, giving it a spongelike quality, but water also evaporates quickly. To maximize the hydrating effects, gently pat your skin dry with a towel and apply moisturizer immediately afterward.
• Seek products with ceramides. If you’re prone to eczema or have sensitive skin, look for unscented moisturizers with ceramides. Ceramides are part of the skin’s natural makeup and help maintain skin hydration. Using ceramide moisturizers can help restore your skin’s natural ceramide levels and prevent dryness and irritation.
• Caring for skin of color. Darker skin tones can provide some protection against the sun’s harmful rays, but it’s still important to use sunscreen daily to protect against skin cancer. Wearing sunscreen can also help prevent dark spots (hyperpigmentation), which is one of the most common reasons people with darker skin tones see a dermatologist, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Skin cancer warning signs

See your doctor right away if you have a mole that meets one of the ABCDE criteria, which can signal skin cancer.

• Asymmetrical, where half of the mole doesn’t mirror the shape of the other half
• Borders that are irregular rather than round, with edges that are jagged, notched or blurred
• Uneven Color, including shades of tan, brown, black or blue
• Diameter larger than a pencil eraser
• Evolution over time as a mole changes in color, shape or size

Examine your skin in front of a mirror regularly and see your doctor right away if you think your skin shows signs of cancer. “Going to your doctor early makes a huge difference in the success of treatment,” says Dr. Zemede.

Think you might have skin cancer?

Call your doctor or establish with one of our Saint Agnes Care primary providers today.


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