July is UV Safety Month, and what better way to kickstart it than with information regarding ways to protect your skin from sun damage. UV rays, or ultraviolet rays, are given off by the sun. Exposure to UV rays can not only cause tanning or sunburn, but can contribute to one’s risk of developing skin cancers such as melanoma. Studies continue to show that one’s risk of melanoma doubles with just five episodes of sunburned skin, making it a serious concern that should be addressed with proper skincare and protection from the start. 

Below are just a few of the ways in which patients can protect their skin from UV rays. 

• Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds also increase a patient’s risk of developing skin cancer in the future and can significantly increase pigmentation problems in the skin that need the help of a dermatologist to resolve.
• Pay attention to when you are outside. The sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 10am and 4pm, so avoid the outdoors during this time if you can.
• Choose the right sunscreen. You may feel confused when you enter the sunscreen aisle at your local drugstore. However, choosing a sunscreen is easy. Select a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Use sunscreen correctly. Apply sunscreen approximately 15 minutes before sun exposure, and cover all exposed areas every two hours when spending time outdoors.
• Undergo routine skin cancer screenings. Skin cancer is often spotted in the earliest stages, which make it easy to address with immediate treatment. Visiting a dermatologist once a year for a screening is vital to catching this condition early on and improving survival rates.

Schedule a visit with the team today! 

Learning about ways to protect your skin is important to ensure that you reduce your risk of sun damaged skin. At the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center, we can help! Call our office at  (972) 661-2729 to request a consultation appointment with our team and discuss your needs. Our facility is located at 5310 Harvest Hill Road, Suite #160 and accepts new patients.