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Community Corner

Proactive Sun Protection Saves Skin

New Baltimore dermatologist shares year-round tips for a healthy, radiant complexion.

Sunscreen sales soar during summertime when rays are in full view. However, skin experts say it's crucial to protect skin from harmful rays throughout the year.

“Snow, sand, concrete and water all cause double trouble from the sun. They reflect off all these surfaces and project the sun onto your face from below,” said seasoned New Baltimore dermatologist Lisa Manz-Dulac. “I have seen people return sunburned from a ski trip out west."

Because sun rays are most direct during summer months, Manz-Dulac said that people don’t typically think of applying sunscreen to exposed skin when skies are gray. She suggests staying indoors or in the shade from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when radiation is strongest.

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Wearing tightly woven SPF-enhanced clothing in dark colors when outdoors is a smart move, said Manz-Dulac. She suggests wearing UV-protective sunglasses for proper eye protection as well.

She also warns that people taking certain oral antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, birth control and other medications have increased sensitivity to sun exposure. She recommends annual full-body skin exams to patients with a personal or family history of skin cancer or dysplastic (irregular) moles and those who have suffered severe sunburns in youth.

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“The kids growing up today are lucky, but most adults abused the sun when they were younger," she said. "A tan was considered a beautiful thing back in those days.”

Keep a Close Eye on Your Skin

Performing frequent and regular self-checks for moles throughout the year is also a smart move for people with a history of dysplastic moles or skin cancer. If a new sore or lesion does not heal within three to four weeks, it is also time to visit a dermatologist.

“Trust your instincts and come in if something is changing or appears new,” Manz-Dulac said. “The human eye is not a microscope, so even if I think (a mole is) benign, we’ll usually send it for biopsy. The patient can then sleep better at night that way.”

Standard skin screening advises checking moles for asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, a diameter measuring larger than six millimeters and evolution or change in size. Manz-Dulac also warns to watch out for “funny-looking” moles that might be considered normal on one person but does not fit another individual’s mole pattern.

The good news is that being proactive about sun protection can greatly increase the chance of catching skin cancer early when it is most treatable, according to Manz-Dulac. Key steps for maintaining a healthy complexion include applying SPF sun block to exposed skin before heading outdoors every morning. Sunscreens should offer at least SPF 30, UVA and UVB broad-spectrum protection.

Manz-Dulac said that moisturizing skin from head to toe with a basic moisturizer nightly is also important. She approves using enhanced facial moisturizers containing ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid or Vitamin C to further improve skin tone. Lower-priced drug store brand formulas may be just as effective as department store brands like Clinique.

“Use unscented products and detergents and avoid perfumes and additives. These can aggravate the skin. I treat as many adult females for acne as teenagers. Weather changes can flare up the skin; some people can’t tolerate products in the wintertime that they can during summer.”

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