Here comes the sun (we hope)
Every year, about 100 million Americans get a sunburn -- and it's often associated with doing outdoor activities (as opposed to intentionally trying to get a tan), binge drinking and using sunless tanning products (your skin is "tanned" and you don't notice the burn that's happening). If that happens year after year, you're at a hugely increased risk of skin cancer.
A study in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that around a third of folks say they had between one and five sunburns in the past year. And the American Academy of Dermatology says that if you have just five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20, your risk for developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, jumps by 80% and the risk for squamous or basal cell skin cancer goes up by 68%.
That's why Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends you put sunscreen on every morning. They say it takes an ounce of 30-plus SPF sunscreen (we say micronized zinc sunscreen only, 35 SPF) to protect your face, neck, arms and legs. To protect just your face and neck, they recommend using half a teaspoon. If you're outdoors for extended periods of time and don't think to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours, they recommend a 60 SPF.
For more information on how to avoid premature wrinkling and reduce your skin cancer risk, check out "Ingredients to Look Out for in Your Sunscreen" and "The Best Foods and Supplements for Natural Sun Protection" at iHerb.com/blog.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments