Do's and don'ts for protecting your skin this summer
Any parts of the body exposed to summer sun need attention and protection, says Dr. Adrienne Haughton, dermatologist and director of Medical and Cosmetic Services at Stony Brook Medicine. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Rawpixel
As we begin to daydream about all the ways we’d like to enjoy the outdoors this summer, uppermost in our minds should be plans for protecting our skin from the season’s intense sun, Long Island dermatologists and beauty spa owners say.
And a recent study by the No7 Beauty brand found New York to be among the 10 worst for skin health based on environmental conditions including higher than average hours of sun exposure.
“It’s very important to remember that all skin types require and benefit from daily sun protection in the summer,” says Dr. Rebecca L. Chusid, a dermatologist with a Williston Park practice. “Exposure to ultraviolet light from the summer sun can cause changes in your skin cells which can result in skin cancer.”
Any parts of the body exposed to summer sun need attention, adds Dr. Adrienne Haughton, dermatologist and director of Medical and Cosmetic Services at Stony Brook Medicine. “Skin cancer is most frequently seen in areas with increased exposure to UV radiation: face, neck, hands and arms, essentially all areas not covered by clothing.”
Sunscreen isn't the only way to keep your skin safe this summer. Clothing and accessories can help. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto/RuslanDashinsky
The skin experts note that proper summer skin care is vital not only for different skin types, such as dry or oily, but for all skin tones as well. This is despite the fact that darker skin naturally has more protection because it contains melanin — the pigment that gives the skin color and helps protect cells from some forms of sun damage.
“While it is true that skin of color statistically has a lower incidence of skin cancers, skin of color skin cancers are often found later, are in a more aggressive stage when diagnosed, and have poorer outcomes than do skin cancers found in white skin,” Chusid says.
Sharon Webb-Richards, co-owner of Anoz Spa Boutique Inc. in Garden City, agrees that keeping skin healthy year-round is important for everyone but, for New Yorkers in particular, summer skin care needs to be a priority.
“New Yorkers tend to glorify being busy,” Webb-Richards says, but she notes you need to be “good at balancing your work, play, eating, rest and skin care regimen.” She adds, “If you're concerned about having healthy skin you must fit your skin care regimen into your daily routine — that includes quality skin products for your type of skin, drinking half your weight in water daily, eating healthy, getting regular facials from an experienced licensed aesthetician and more.”
Danielle Hoffmann, 31, of Freeport, receives a golden facial from esthetician Patti Byrnes at New York’s Face Place in Huntington Station. Credit: Danielle Silverman
The main thing is, protecting your skin from summer’s sun is something relatively easy to do, the experts say, whether you do it yourself or get help from a professional.
Jen Terban-Hertell, owner of New York’s Face Place in Huntington Station, says, “It is extremely important to take care of your skin during the summer months when we spend so much time outside exposing our skin to the harmful elements. Knowing where and how to start can seem overwhelming, but it’s not.”
Here are some do’s and don’ts from these experts to help you enjoy summer sun safely:
