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.
Summer is a time for fun in the sun. This week on Health Watch we’ll talk about safe and healthy summer fun. Before you head outdoors, make sure you protect your skin.
Dr. Sarah Weitzul, a dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says using sunscreen correctly can protect your skin from both cancer and aging. To get full protection from your sunscreen, put it on about half an hour before you go out so it has time to be absorbed into your skin and apply it liberally. You may not get full protection if you put on too little. Reapply the sunscreen after you’ve been in the water, if you’ve been sweating and every three hours. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Use sunscreen daily, not just when you’re going to the beach or swimming pool. If you’re going to be out less than fifteen minutes, use a sunscreen of SPF 15, but if you’ll be out longer, you’ll need SPF 30 or higher.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/dermatology to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in dermatology.
