Winter has arrived and although we all miss the sun dearly, harmful UV rays can still penetrate clouds and pose a threat to our skin health. This is why it’s important to stay diligent with applying sunscreen and checking your skin even on overcast days – especially for the high-risk, often-forgotten body parts below.
Eyelids
Dermatologists often see basal and squamous cell cancers develop on the skin around the eyes. It might be difficult to apply sunscreen in this area because it’s easy to get the product in your eyes. However, that’s no excuse for skipping the eyelids, especially if you are not wearing sunglasses to block out UV rays. Choose an unscented, sensitive skin friendly sunscreen formula to avoid teary eyes and reapply when needed.
Hands
People often forget to reapply sunscreen after washing their hands. This can make the back of your hands vulnerable to UV damage. In fact, a study found that less than half of 214 beachgoers applied sunscreen to their hands. Given that our hands are often more exposed to the sun than other body parts, it’s a good idea to double-check your hands for proper sun protection and remind others to do so before heading outside.
Ears
For many people, less sunscreen makes it to our ears than the rest of our face. Research has found that ears are the 3rd most common location for skin cancers. If you have short hair or always leave your hair tied up, your ears might carry a heightened risk of getting skin cancer due to unprotected sun exposure throughout the day. Be sure to set aside time to dab some sunscreen onto the rims and bowls of your ears. For extra coverage, wearing a wide-brimmed hat is also a great choice, especially for cooler days!
Now that you know how to properly protect your skin from the sun, don’t forget to also schedule a winter skin check with SkinVision, as a part of an effective skin health routine!
Sources:
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/5-sunscreen-spots-missed.htm
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/five-place-youre-probably-forgetting-to-put-sunscreen
https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/how-to-apply-sunscreen-to-commonly-missed-spots
