You know that you need a partner to cover your back with sunscreen, but you may overlook other spots — places that you can easily reach yourself, but may fly under your radar during your self-applications.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a timely opportunity to review that skin cancers are the most common form of the disease, outnumbering all other types of cancer combined. At Dermio Dermatology in Munster, Dyer, Valparaiso, and Crown Point, Indiana, we’ve got you covered as skin cancer specialists.
If you’re like many, your face, arms, and shoulders are usually well-covered with your sunscreen of choice. The spot method is most common, since it’s inconvenient to apply and reapply sunscreen under clothing, which may have its own ultraviolet (UV) light-blocking abilities.
Being diligent with these hotspots is good, since they bear the brunt of your UV exposure. However, other spots frequently get sidestepped, and these are places where skin cancer frequently does pop up. Check this list of five common places you’re probably forgetting to put sunscreen, and update your skin protection habits to compensate.
The ears, which rank as one of the most common spots to skimp on sunscreen, are the easiest spot to fix. The back of your ears may get more sun than you realize, along with the rim of the ear, called the helix, particularly at the top.
These are common sites for sunburn and long-term damage, and as such, they get plenty of attention when we screen a patient for skin cancer. Start with your ears or use them to absorb excess sunscreen from your hands. Whatever you do, don’t skip your ears.
Overlap sunscreen at your hairline, particularly if hair density is thinner. Other trouble spots could be along the part line of certain hairstyles or places where your hair is thinning. Hats are another solid strategy to avoid painful scalp burns.
You may be giving your collar too much credit for its sun-blocking ability. You likely already cover the front of your neck, since it gets exposed to photoaging. Don’t forget to take the sunscreen around the back, below the fabric line of anything you’re wearing, and up over your hairline.
Sure, the palms of your hands are well-covered as they’re your primary applicators. If they’re still carrying excess sunscreen, dry them off by covering the backs of your hands. Add more sunscreen if necessary, since this is another spot on your body that can age prematurely from UV light effects.
Whether in stylish sandals, flip-flops, or barefoot in the sand, your feet absorb far more UV light than they do inside boots and socks all winter. You’re already avoiding the sharp sting of sunburned shins, so finish the job and cover the tops of your feet, too.
The best way to avoid skin cancer is to regularly use a sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher, applied as directed. Add a layer of protection with annual medical skin cancer screenings.
Contact Dermio Dermatology at our nearest location when you’re ready to take on a medical partner in skin cancer prevention. Call 219-228-4200 to book at any of our offices today.
