Do I need to wear sunscreen every single day, even if I am in the office all day?

Patient Question: Do I need to wear sunscreen every single day, even if I am in the office all day?

Dr. Lewen’s answer: When living or part-time living in south Florida, we experience daily exposure to the sun’s UV rays, and we must be cautious about protecting our skin.   The two most common forms of UV rays from the sun are UV-A and UV-B rays.  UV-B rays are the ones that contribute to tanning, and commonly cause sunburns.  UV-A rays are slightly more dangerous because they penetrate deeper into the skin, causing wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging.  These are also the form of UV rays that can be more problematic and lead to skin cancers.  UV-A rays can penetrate through glass windows as well (such as in the car), and so anytime there is ambient light in a room, there are UV rays that can potentially cause problems.  The most important thing that every one of us can do to prevent skin cancers, is to apply a broad spectrum (UV-A & UV-B coverage) sunscreen to our faces and other sun-exposed body areas on a daily basis, regardless of whether we are out in the sun specifically, or even if it is a cloudy day.  Daily sunscreen usage also has the added benefit of being the single most important step in any anti-aging skin care regimen.  Medical sunscreens come in many different varieties, and there is a sunscreen appropriate and available for every individual skin type.

Please call my patient coordinator, Morgan, if you have any questions about the best sunscreen for your skin type.  Mention that you read this blog and receive 15% off your sunscreen purchase!