Exposure to the sun is inevitable, and as temperatures rise, so does the risk of skin damage.
Dr. Larisa Ravitskiy, founder of the Ohio Skin Cancer Institute, offers her advice on how to keep skin safe amidst the hot and dry conditions. Ravitskiy suggests using a humidifier as well as minimizing skin exposure to hot water, as cooler water is less drying to the skin.
“Radiant heat can be very drying to the skin,” she says. “With age, skin gradually loses its protective moisture.”
With spring break upon us, healthy habits for sun exposure are even more important to avoid the risk of serious skin conditions down the road. By applying sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, sporting a broad-brimmed hat, and wearing sun-protective clothing with UPF 50, skin damage can be kept to a minimum.
One common trip-up is forgetting to protect the delicate skin around one’s eyes. Ravitskiy recommends investing in a pair of large sunglasses with 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays.
She also advises those seeking the sun to avoid it when it’s at its hottest.
“Staying out of the sun or seeking shade at the time that UV radiation is at its worst – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – will help with keeping your skin damage-free,” she says. “There is no such thing as a safe tan.”
Ravitskiy encourages parents to teach their children about sun safety and also model good behavior of their own.
Elizabeth Tzagournis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
