Summer Skin Care Tips from Brevard Skin & Cancer Center

During the summer months, skin care can be challenging. Your care routine should change with the season, especially if you plan on being outdoors for extended periods of time.  Hot and humid weather can cause skin to be oily but sun exposure can actually dry skin out. The National Institute on Aging has pointed to sunlight as a major culprit of wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. Dr. Andrew Miner, the newest member of the board certified dermatology team at Brevard Skin & Cancer Center shares some advice on keeping skin healthy and beautiful during the summer.

Sunscreen: 

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Brevard-Skin-&-Cancer-Center

  • Use at least SPF 30 and one that you like and are willing to apply. Find one that is aesthetically pleasing. The majority of people who don’t wear sunscreen complain that it is oily or don’t like the feeling of it on their skin. By experimenting with brands and formulas, you can find one that you will wear every day. Ask your dermatologist for some examples of brands that may work for you. Many sunscreen products contain moisturizers so that you can save a step in your skincare routine. Some sunscreens also add antioxidants and vitamins that show evidence of improving your skin. 
  • Choose a non-comedogenic sunscreen so it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts.
  • Apply sunscreen generously. “Studies show most people use only half as much sunscreen as they should,” Dr. Miner warned. 
  • Apply at least 15 minutes before you go outside and reapply every two hours. Sunscreen needs about 15 minutes for your skin to absorb it so it has maximum efficacy.
  • If you swim, sweat, or towel off, reapply at that time.
  • Studies demonstrate that even one blistering sunburn in life more than doubles the risk of melanoma.

 

 If you do burn:

  • Apply ice packs or cool cloths on skin and apply topical creams containing aloe, topical steroids (such as 1 percent hydrocortisone), or other soothing agents. 
  • Refrigerating creams before application will make them feel even better on your sunburned skin.
  • Take oral ibuprofen for a few days to decrease later effects.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • The American Academy of Dermatology studies found that if a blistering sunburn is a part of that childhood, the risk of deadly skin cancer doubles later in life.

 

Repairing damage: 

To help repair or even reverse the signs of skin damage, Dr. Miner recommends a prescription topical retinoid or one sold in physician offices like Brevard Skin & Cancer Center. Those sold in a medical professional’s office contain a higher concentration than ones available over the counter. Retinoids increase the making of new collagen. They also stimulate new blood vessels in the skin, giving skin a rosy appearance, fading age spots, and reducing precancerous skin spots called actinic keratosis. These ingredients can make you more sensitive to sun so it is best to put on at bedtime. Like any active medication, retinoids can have potential side effects so they are best used under the care of a skin care professional.

During the summer, most skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis actually get better as cautious amounts of sun (while being careful to avoid burning) can improve these ailments.

“It is hard to overemphasize the importance of sunscreen. The best thing to do for your skin is to wear sunscreen every day.” – Dr. Andrew Miner 

Dr.-Andrew-MinerDr. Andrew Miner did his medical training at the University of Texas Southwestern. After an internship in internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center, Dr. Miner completed his dermatology training at the University of Miami. Next Dr. Miner worked as a dermatologist and specialized in Dermatopathology at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Miner practices general and cosmetic dermatology in addition to Mohs surgery. Dr. Miner also interprets biopsies of skin growths and rashes in the microscope.

Brevard Skin & Cancer Center has been serving Brevard for over 50 years; the team of board-certified dermatologists and experienced medical professionals are dedicated to the diagnosis, education, prevention, and treatment of hair, skin and nail conditions. Three centers throughout Brevard County including Viera at 8059 Spyglass Hill Rd. #103. Visit BrevardSkin.com or call (321) 636-7780 to request an appointment.  


This article appears in the May 2015 issue of SpaceCoast Living HEALTH.
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