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Summer means longer days and more time spent outdoors. Is your skin care routine ready? Protecting the skin from the sun is an important part of a preventative health care routine, and you may need to make modifications as you and the family get out and enjoy the weather this year. Here’s what you need to know.

4 Skin Care Tips for Preventative Health Care 

1. Choose the Right Sunscreen

Do you know what kind of sunscreen you need? If you’re not choosing one that’s strong enough, the skin is unprotected. Broad-spectrum protects you from UVA and UVB rays, and you need both. UVB causes burning while UVA causes the appearance of premature aging. If you swim, choose a water-resistant sunscreen, and apply it liberally every two hours.  

2. Start Skin Care Early & Often

The earlier a person begins to burn or tan, the higher their risk for skin cancer. Even a single sunburn as an infant can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. Children under six months cannot use sunscreen, so make sure they are protected with hats, clothing, and shade. Talk to your teenager about the risks associated with tanning, from skin cancer to early aging.

3. Wear Hats

preventative health careWhether you’re spending a day at the pool, working in the yard, or exercising outdoors, wear a hat to protect your face and scalp. Wide-brimmed, lightweight ones for leisure activities, or baseball-style hats for athletic activities, will provide the protection you need.

4. Avoid Intentional Tanning

Do not lay out in the sun for the purpose of getting a tan. You may have heard a “base tan” can protect you from burning, but research has found this is only mildly beneficial and not worth the risk. Avoid preparing for summer in a tanning bed, as well, and simply embrace and care for the skin you have.  

 

At Moogerfeld Internal Medicine in Statesboro, GA, you’ll find comprehensive, preventative health care from a team of providers who listen and prioritize your needs. From women’s health to wellness visits and dermatology, Drs. Brian and Maria Moogerfeld offer the services and treatments you need to maintain good health. Call (912) 681-7111 to schedule an appointment, and follow them on Facebook to see what their patients have to say about their care.

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