How to Take Better Care of Your Skin | AFC Urgent Care Memphis

Summer is right around the corner, and you know what that means—we are going to be spending more time enjoying the summer sun! While spending time in the sun is a wonderful way to get the vitamin D we need on a daily basis, too much sun can increase our risk of skin cancer.

Therefore, our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants to give you tips on how you can have fun in the sun while also protecting your skin this season!

Protect Your Skin

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Approximately one in every five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of skin cancer—now and in the future. Let’s take a look at some ways you can protect the skin you are:

Wear Your Sunscreen

The importance of wearing sunscreen cannot be stressed enough. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

Also, sunscreen should be worn every day. While you might think it is cloudy enough outside to not wear sunscreen, you can actually still burn on cloudy days. Therefore, it is important for you not to skip a day of wearing sunscreen!

Remember to reapply every two hours, or more often if you’re sweating or swimming.

Choose the Right Clothing

While you dress appropriately for rainy days by pulling on a raincoat, you also want to make sure you dress correctly for the sun! Avoid dark colors and wear light colors instead so you don’t get as hot and attract the sun as much.

Plus, you also want to wear sunglasses with UVA or UVB protection and a wide-brimmed hat so that your face, neck, scalp and eyes are as protected as possible from the sun’s strong UV rays!

Avoid the Sun During the Day

You won’t be able to stay indoors all the time, but if you’re able to be inside during the hottest hours of the day, that’s a great plan.

Try to choose indoor activities between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are the most intense.

If you’re not able to be indoors, find a shady spot, like under an umbrella, when possible.

Did you suffer a really bad sunburn over the weekend? Visit AFC Urgent Care Memphis today for a medical evaluation and to ensure your burn is being treated properly.