Keep Your Skin Safe This Summer With These Products

Skin cancer is the leading type of cancer in the United States, affecting about 20% of Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). 

Wearing sunscreen regularly is one of the best things you can do to help protect your skin from the sun’s cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. But with so many products on the market, choosing the right sunscreen can be daunting.

At Southwest Michigan Dermatology, our team helps our patients in Portage, Michigan, reduce their risks of skin cancer with skin care regimens and treatments tailored specifically to their needs. In this post, learn how sunscreen protects your skin and how our team makes it easy to find just the right sunscreen to keep your skin healthy. 

Quick facts about sunscreen

UV radiation (from the sun and tanning beds too) causes cancer by altering your skin’s DNA. When your skin DNA is damaged, cells can start to grow and multiply out of control, leading to cancerous growths. 

Sunscreen works by preventing UV rays from being absorbed into your skin. Different sunscreens use different chemicals and varying formulations to protect your skin and filter out damaging UV radiation.

Wearing sunscreen every day can reduce your risk of melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer) by 50% and the most common type of skin cancer by 40%. The key is to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, especially if you’re sweating or swimming, and to use the right amount to cover your body — about an ounce, roughly the amount you’d need to fill a shot glass.

Wearing sunscreen regularly offers other benefits as well. The sun’s rays are a major cause of age-related changes in your skin, contributing to wrinkles, dark spots, and skin laxity. By slathering on sunscreen every day, you can prevent these problems and help your skin look more youthful as you get older.

Selecting the right sunscreen for your skin’s needs

Selecting a sunscreen may not be rocket science, but it can be a little overwhelming. Obviously, you want a sunscreen that does what it’s supposed to do — provide complete protection from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. And you want a product that’s safe for your skin and gentle, so you don’t have to worry about rashes or blemishes. 

But among the — literally — hundreds of options out there, how can you identify the one that’s ideal for your skin’s needs? We make it simple. Our team is dedicated to helping you enjoy healthy, beautiful skin. As part of that goal, we offer a full array of skin care products at our office, including sunscreen, making it convenient to find the products that are just right for you. 

After reviewing countless options, we feel confident in offering these top-rated, trusted brands of sunscreen to our patients: 

• Elta MD® UV Clear SPF 46 
• Elta MD UV Sport
• Intellishade® (tinted and clear), featuring anti-aging peptides and nourishing moisturizers
• Intellishade’s all-mineral TruPhysical sunscreen
• La Roche-Posay® Anthelios mineral sunscreen (tinted and untinted)
• SkinCeuticals® Physical Fusion UV Defense and Sheer Physical UV Defense
• SkinMedica™ Total Defense + Repair anti-aging tinted sunscreen

Each of these products is available at our office’s Laser and Skin Care Center, located right next door to our dermatology office. You can pick up products when you come in for your appointment or any time you’re in the area.

Don’t leave your skin unprotected

Adding sunscreen to your regular skin care routine is one of the wisest steps you can take to protect your skin now and in the future. To learn more about the sunscreen products we offer or to schedule a skin cancer screening, call 269-321-7546 or book an appointment online at Southwest Michigan Dermatology today.