With triple-digit temperatures hitting the Valley this week, dermatologists are urging residents to take extra precautions in the sun, emphasizing that daily sunscreen use is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect skin from damage.
Sunscreen plays a key role in preventing skin cancer and protecting against premature aging, experts say.
"I think it's really important to wear at least an SPF 30, but getting up to a 50 is kind of the sweet spot, and you really don't need to go higher than a 50. We like the physical sunscreen blockers, so titanium dioxide or zinc oxide is the active ingredient we like to look for," said Dr. Joel Spitz, Co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and board-certified dermatologist at Honeydew.
Spitz also recommends limiting sun exposure during peak hours, noting that the risk of sunburn is highest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. He advises applying sunscreen regularly throughout the day.
"Even if it says waterproof, don't believe it. Just keep on reapplying out of the ocean, out of the pool," he said.
For people with acne-prone skin, particularly those taking acne medications, sun sensitivity can be heightened. Dr. Spitz suggests looking for specific labeling when choosing a product.
"When you're looking at products that you want to use sunscreen-wise to make sure it says non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, those are kind of code words," he said.
Dermatologists also stress that the amount of sunscreen applied directly affects how well it protects. Honeydew CEO and co-founder David Futoran recommends a simple method to ensure adequate coverage.
"You can actually apply it on each finger, your index finger and your middle finger just for your face coverage and a third finger for the neck. Some derms argue that that's not even enough, but two fingers is usually actually much more than people typically apply," Futoran said.
As the heat continues across the Valley, experts reiterate the importance of reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours to maintain protection against intense sun exposure.
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