Before going out, you may have a habit of slapping SPF on the face, arms and legs. And this is a start, but do not stop there.
According to the association of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), most adults need 1 ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) of sunscreen to cover the exposed skin all over the body. However, they add that most people request only 25 to 50 percent of this amount.
“Sunscreens should be applied daily, regardless of the weather, and reapplied every two hours,” says Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. And if you’re swimming or sweating, reapply afterwards, the Skin cancer Foundation recommends.
Certain areas, such as the scalp, lips, ears, neck and chest, tend to be overlooked, either because applying sunscreen is uncomfortable or because the area does not seem to get enough sun to justify the SPF. But many of these areas are high-risk sites for skin cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the risk of melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer, doubles if you get five or more sunburns. But the daily application of an SPF of 15 or higher reduces this risk by 50 percent, so it is important to apply sunscreen wherever the sun hits.
Do you need another reason to calculate SPF? Consider the other long-term effects of UV rays on your skin. Ninety percent of skin aging can be attributed to the sun, notes the Skin Cancer Foundation, but one study found that people who used sunscreen daily with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher showed 24 percent less skin aging than those who did not use sunscreen consistently.
So keep these often overlooked areas in mind for your next application.
1. Ears
Thanks to all its folds, the ears are not the easiest place to apply sunscreen. But they get a lot of sun, so do not skip them (yes, even if you have long hair). The Cleveland Clinic says that the ears are the third most common place for skin cancer.
But don’t just apply lotion to the lobes: “I see skin cancer everywhere in the outer ear and even in the ear canal,” says Tanya Nino, MD, a certified dermatologist and director of the melanoma program at Providence St.Joseph in Orange County, California. “Behind the ears, including the fold behind the ear, is also a common place where skin cancer forms.”
2. Scalp
If you think that your hair protects your scalp, think again. “The scalp is the highest point of the body and is therefore more likely to burn than other areas,” says Dr. Green. “To prevent skin cancer, SPF should always be applied to the scalp and hairline.”Although skin cancer on the scalp is not common, it accounts for 2 to 5 percent of all cutaneous melanomas, research has shown that SPF should still be used. Of course, a hat can also help here.
3. Eyelids
The skin around the eyes is thin and that makes them prone to skin cancer as well as signs of aging such as wrinkles and sun spots, Green says. According to experts, skin cancer on the eyelids accounts for up to 10 percent of all skin cancers Cancer.Net , the website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
“Many people refrain from applying SPF to the eyelids due to the sensitivity of the area,” says Green. To protect yourself without stinging, opt for a mineral sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide; you can find one that is formulated for sensitive skin, says Green. Alternatively, she advises using an eye cream that contains SPF.
4. Mouth
You may not think of your lips as skin, but they are, and skin cancer can also develop there. Fortunately, the protection of this territory is simple. All you need is a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, according to the Association of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Using a lip balm with SPF is a good practice to prevent the development of skin cancer and wrinkles in the area,” says Green
