Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
Between the sun and the heat, summer can be cruel to your skin. This week on Health Watch, we’ll offer some summer skin survival tips. The most important thing to do for your skin is protect it from the sun — whether or not you’re heading to the beach.
Dr. Erin Welch, a skin cancer expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says skin damage adds up over a lifetime of exposure to the sun, so you need to protect your skin daily and prevent every sunburn. You may be exposed to the sun more often in the summer, but sunscreen is a good habit year-round. Use an SPF of at least 30 if you’ll be in the sun more than 15 minutes, and apply it half an hour before going outside. Reapply regularly, especially if you get wet or if you’re sweaty. Use a lip balm with sunblock to protect your lips.
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August 2007
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