Skin cancer and finding the best Charlotte dermatologist

Skin cancer has many causes for Charlotte, NC patients. One of the biggest causes is exposure to the sun. With one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point throughout their lives. And though there isn’t a way to totally prevent the disease, there are things you can do to protect yourself and lower your risk.

One of the biggest things you can do to lower your risk of skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun. Though finding shade and wearing clothing that covers your skin may not always be an option for you, you should be sure to use sunscreen to protect your skin.

Applying sunblock won’t help lower your risk of skin cancer if you don’t choose an effective one. When choosing a sunscreen, you should make sure you choose one that is:

1. SPF30 or higher. Anything lower will not protect your skin as well from the sun. Most sunscreen have the SPF predominately displayed on the bottle.
2. Broad spectrum. Make sure your sunscreen is broad spectrum, which offers your skin protection from both UVA and UVB rays, which can damage skin and both of which can cause skin cancer.
3. Water resistant. Let’s face it, we are likely to sweat or get wet while wearing sunscreen. Make sure the one you choose is water resistant so it lasts a little longer.

Now that you have the right sunscreen to protect your skin and deter your chances of developing skin cancer, you’ll want to make sure you apply it properly. If not, your sunblock won’t be effective. To properly apply sunscreen, you should:

• Apply early. Make sure your sunscreen has time to soak in before you go out. You should apply it about 15 minutes before you go outside.
• Reapply frequently. Even if your sunblock is water resistant, you still need to apply. A good rule of thumb is to reapply every two hours.
• Cover everything. Skin cancer can develop anywhere. Make sure you apply your sunscreen everywhere that isn’t covered, such as your ears, legs, and even feet.

Contact Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte, Charlotte’s top Ballantyne and Blakeney Dermatologist, for your dermatology care.