Nikki Sommer, a nurse with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5 FM for Medical Matters this morning.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and it’s so important to keep your skin healthy by using sunscreen.
Sommer said, “This is from the American Academy of Dermatology, this is on their website. This is who needs sunscreen? And that is everyone. Everyone. It can help prevent the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Anybody can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender, skin tone. I think people think because if you have a darker skin tone you’re kind of immune to it. You are not. Anybody can get it. So it’s estimated that one in five Americans will develop a skin cancer in their lifetime. I am one of them. I had melanoma, which is the worst one. So this is why you want to get checked regularly. But also you need to wear sunscreen.”
Any time a person who has been diagnosed with skin cancer is in the sun, you should wear sunscreen.
Sommer said, “If you work inside and you’re really not outside at all, that’s one thing. If you’re running errands, we’re in the sun down here almost 10 months out of the year. I mean, we’re in the sun 12 months out of the year. The sun is stronger here and even just running in and out of your car. If you’re doing that, wear sunscreen every day and wear long sleeves. I know it’s hot, so people equate long sleeves to getting even hotter and dehydration plays a part.”
Remember that water can reflect the sun, too.
How much sunscreen should be used?
Sommer said, “SPF 50 or higher, broad spectrum sunscreen to fight UVA and UVB rays. Water resistant is recommended and mostly I think most of them are, but you want to make sure it is, especially down here because we do sweat all the time. A sunscreen that offers the above to help protect your skin from sunburn and skin aging. Dermatologists recommend taking the following steps to protect your skin – seek shade. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10am to 2pm.”
Michael Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5 recalled, “When we would visit Florida as a child when I was younger, we’d come and see my grandmother in Fort Myers a couple times a year and we were made to stay in the motel room from 10am to 2pm to do our homework. We were not allowed outside during that period. My father, who was a physician, and now I know it wasn’t just a wives’ tale. He wasn’t just being mean.”
“He was being proactive for your skin,” Sommer said. “He did love you.”
“Yeah,” Stapleford agreed. “Now I know.”
Sommer continued, “Wear some protective clothing, such as lightweight and long sleeve shirts, pants and wide brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection when possible. There are clothing that do have the ultraviolet protection factor so you need to look for them and I know a lot of the stores down here have a lot of clothing that has UPF their clothing for fishermen. Everybody’s always in the sun. I’ve even gotten to where I wear a long sleeve shirt on the boat. I have to because I’ve had some skin cancer. Avoid tanning beds, and I really can’t believe they’re still around, but I guess they are.”
Don’t forget the tops of your feet!
Sommer added, “And your hands, make sure you put sunscreen on your hands. People tend to forget that, too. The back of your neck is another one if you wear your hair up. Even if you wear a hat, sometimes people have their hair up under their hat like women, even men. I mean men today have longer hair. You’ve got to make sure you protect the back the back of your neck.”
UV radiation is a known carcinogen.
Sommer said, “Even when you’re in the car, like you sit in the car, the rays hit coming through the window. It’s still hitting your skin, you’re still getting UV rays. So if you’re waiting for somebody that’s in the store, I always talk about my grandfather, his left arm was always so much darker than his right, because he would drive with his arm on the side of the door.”
Make sure you look for the ingredients on your sunscreen.
Sommer said, “If it doesn’t have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, it is considered a chemical sunscreen. Zinc is a really good skin protector. It’s even in baby butt cream.”
The higher number SPF, the better.
Sommer said, “I always tell people, especially down here, 50 or above.”
Remember the PicoSure Pro Laser is still available at Key West Surgical Group.
Sommer said, “It has picked up for both laser facials and tattoo removal. Good skincare is important when you do any type of treatment to your face, laser especially.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/