6 Places You are Missing Out When Applying Sunscreen

You might have gotten in a cycle of slathering SPF or applying sunscreen on the surface of your face, legs and arms before venturing outside. That is a good start, but do not stop there. To protect the skin that is exposed on every part of the body, most individuals use 1 ounce of protective sunscreen (which is sufficient to fill a single shot glass). However, they emphasize that most people are only applicable between 25 and 50 percent of this quantity.

Sunscreen needs to be used every day, regardless of what the weather, and must be reapplied once every two hours. If you plan on swimming or sweating, apply again later. Certain areas, such as the scalp, neck, ears, lips, as well as chest, are frequently ignored, either since applying sunscreen to these areas is difficult or because the region does not appear to receive enough sun to merit SPF. However, many of these regions are at risk for skin cancer.

If you have no fewer than five sunburns, your chance of developing melanoma, a potentially fatal form of cancer of the skin, doubles. However, everyday usage of an SPF for 15 or higher decreases that risk by half, so it's critical to apply sunscreen anywhere the sun shines.

Do you need another excuse to stock up on SPF? Think about the long-term impact of UV on the health of your skin. The sun is responsible for 90% of skin aging, however persons who reported daily usage of a sunscreen containing an SPF of fifteen or higher exhibited 24% less signs of aging than individuals who did not routinely applying sunscreen.

Keep these frequently neglected areas in mind every single time you apply:

1. Ears

Ears aren't the simplest area for applying sunscreen due to all of their folds. They do, however, get a lot of sunlight, so don't ignore them (yes, no matter whether you possess long hair or not). To clarify, ears constitute the third most prevalent site for skin cancer.

Don't only apply lotion on the lobes; I've seen skin malignancies on all regions of the outer ear, including the ear canal. Skin malignancies frequently occur behind the ears, especially the fold behind the ear.

To reduce your risk, use a broad-spectrum lotion sunscreen with an SPF of thirty or higher, and also be sure to apply it to every area of your ears, both front and back. It's definitely an excellent plan to wear a brimmed hat or seek shade whenever you can.

2. Scalp

Think once more if you believe your hair serves to defend your scalp. Because the scalp represents the highest point on the body, it is more prone to burning than other places. SPF should constantly be applied through the scalp as well as hairline in order to avoid skin cancer.

Though skin cancer in your head is uncommon, it is responsible for 2 to 5% for all skin melanomas, according to study, so you should still use SPF. A hat might also be useful in this situation.

Scalp sunscreen does not need to be as complicated as you would think. There is a wide range of sunscreens accessible that are designed to safeguard your scalp without resulting in any residue and greasy sensation. Use sunblock powder or simply a scalp spray made exclusively for the scalp.

3. Eyelids

The skin surrounding your eyes is actually thin, making it vulnerable to both skin cancer and other aging symptoms like wrinkles as well as sun spots. Eyelid cancer contributes to up to 10% for skin cancers in general.

Because of the high sensitivity of the region, many people avoid putting SPF to their eyelids. Choose a mineral sun protection alongside titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for prevention without the sting. You can select one designed specifically for skin that is sensitive. Alternatively, you might use an SPF-containing eye cream.

Investing in a set of UV-protected sunglasses is a terrific way to further prevent the eyelids against skin malignancies and indications of aging which are hastened by the sunlight. Sunglasses can also help to protect the skin around the upper eyelid.

4. Lips

You may not consider your lips to be skin, yet they are, and skin cancers may grow there as well. Fortunately, safeguarding this region is straightforward. All you must have will be a lip balm containing at least an SPF of 30. Applying a lip balm containing SPF in order to reduce the occurrence of skin malignancies or wrinkles in the region is a smart practice.

The most difficult thing to do is remembering to apply it throughout the day. It is advised that you use lip balm once every two hours, or even more frequently if you are swimming. Don't worry if you are lacking any lip balm on yourself. Simply apply the face sunscreen to the outside of the lips.

5. Neck and Chest

You may painstakingly for applying sunscreen on your face while leaving the home, but don't forget about your neck. The top of the head or neck area accounts for approximately 20 percent of newly diagnosed melanoma cases.

Your neck or chest are also high-risk locations for skin cancer, so pay special attention to those areas. It is preferable to apply a thin layer of zinc oxide sunscreen over the chest or neck, as tinted skin sunscreens can transfer to garments.

6. Feet

Your feet are able to absorb a great deal of sunlight unless you are wearing any full-coverage footwear like a sneaker. Our feet' tops are frequently exposed to sunlight, and thus we need to use SPF there.

Your feet's soles, on the opposite, are normally better protected due to a thick covering of skin cells that are dead. However, if the undersides of your feet are going to be in contact with UV rays in any way. If you're resting barefoot on the beach, for instance, you ought to apply SPF there as well. According to study, three to fifteen percent of the melanoma skin tumors originate on the foot and ankle.

People sometimes don't realize they've got moles in their feet and toes, so it's worthwhile to perform a skin self-exam on a regular basis and look for these commonly ignored places.