If the Sun Comes Out Tomorrow
June 26, 2009 by Aly Walansky
Filed under Bath and Body, Skin Care
As you may have read, I’m currently in Montauk on a girlfriends’ getaway (cleverly masked as a “press familiarization excursion”) at the absolutely fabulous Montauk Yacht Club.
Image: Sxc.hu
We have high hopes of hitting the beach – I have not one but TWO hot new swimsuits with me – but as of now, storm clouds are a-brewing.
If by some miracle, the sun comes out tomorrow, I shall still have ridiculously fair skin – and need to be well-prepared. I consulted with Dr. Ronald Moy, newly elected as president of the American Academy of Dermatology, and he gave me some awesome advice for surviving the sun – and maintaining my great skin while I’m at it!
Here’s some guidelines for your next sunny day – if you manage to find one!
1. Wear protective clothing and a broad-brimmed hat.
2. Avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
3. Apply sunscreen before getting into your car. Long-wavelength UVA rays from the sun can penetrate car windshields and damage the skin.
4. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 when you spend any time in the sun. The sunscreen should block both UVA and UVB rays.
Dr. Moy recommends the following types of sunscreens (the first two being more effective):
Avobenzone (Parsol 1789)
Neutrogena Helioplex
One that contains Titanium Oxide or Zinc
5. An over-the-counter antioxidant pill with vitamins also works to protect skin from the sun.
6. Dr. Moy strongly recommends going to the dermatologist for annual exams to guard against skin cancer.
7. Even if you tan easily, the sun can contribute to skin cancer in two ways. First, the sunlight damages the genes that control cell growth, and second sunlight damages the body’s immune system so that early cancers grow unchecked by normal immune defense.
8. Do not stay outdoors unprotected on cloudy days since the ultraviolet light penetrates easily through the clouds.
9. Exfoliate regularly to remove damaged cells.
10. To lighten dark freckles, he uses an over-the-counter bleaching agent that contains 2% hydroquinone.
