As we head into the summer months, it is more important than ever to understand how to protect your skin from the sun. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect time to talk about the proper prevention measures for your skin.

Here are our top tips for staying safe while having fun in the sun ☀

Use sunscreen every day

Sun or rain, even on cloudy days, it doesn’t matter! Apply at least 15 to 30 minutes before you head out for your day to allow adequate time for a protective film to develop. Our favorite is SkinMedica’s Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, which goes beyond UVA and UVB protection by defending skin against the sun’s harmful infrared rays. The unique antioxidant formula also corrects fine lines and wrinkles to improve sun-damaged skin for a more youthful appearance.

Understand the level of protection your products provide

SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and measures how much of the sun’s UVB rays are blocked. The SPF number indicates the length of time you can stay in the sun with that product. For instance, if your skin turns red after 10 minutes in the sun, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 should allow for 150 minutes in the sun.

Pro tip: Layering products with different SPFs doesn’t provide additional protection, rather the level of protection is based on the highest number of the SPF that you are using, not the additive number of all of your products.

Protect commonly forgotten areas

Beyond the face, there are many areas to be mindful of such as ears, lips, front and back of the neck, hairline, hands, and feet.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours

This will improve effectiveness with extended outdoor activity, water exposure, or heavy perspiration. An easy way to do this is with the ColoreScience Sun forgettable® Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield. Water-resistant for 80 minutes, compact enough to throw in your purse, and easy to reapply alone or over makeup throughout the day, ColoreScience is the perfect product to keep your skin radiant and protected. Even better, it is available in fair, medium, and tan shades to match your skin tone.

Know how much sunscreen to use

Trust us, it is more than you think. Most adults need about 1 ounce – or enough to fill a shot glass – to fully cover their bodies. To ensure the sunscreen ends up on its intended area, start by squeezing it on the back of your hands then use two fingertips to distribute it and evenly spread it over your face, neck, and décolletage. Rub any remaining sunscreen into the back of your hands.

Understand how the sun impacts your skin.

UVB rays penetrate and damage the outermost layers of your skin and overexposure causes suntan, sunburn, and, in severe cases, blistering. UVB rays can damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes or on reflective surfaces like snow or ice.

UVA rays, while slightly less intense than UVB, penetrate your skin more deeply. Exposure causes genetic damage to cells on the innermost part of your top layer of skin, where most skin cancers occur. The skin tries to prevent further damage by darkening, resulting in a tan. Over time, UVA also leads to premature aging and skin cancer.

Pro tip: The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 AM and 3 PM and this is when you are more likely to burn.

Wear sunglasses and a hat

Adding sunglasses and a hat provide added protection for the eyes which are prone to melanomas and cataracts and the sensitive skin around your eyes which may see signs of aging from squinting.

Get your annual skin check

With the risk of melanoma seemly increasing in people under 40, understanding what to look for and annual checkups with a certified dermatologist are important. Timeless is proud to be an affiliate of DOCS – Dermatologists of Central States, a leading dermatology group in the Midwest and beyond.

Sun protection is always in season. The team at Timeless Skin Solutions can help you select the medical-grade protection that is best for you.