Beauty Tips

This Is the First Thing Derms Notice About Your Skin

Top dermatologists reveal what they notice the moment you walk into their office

by Lindsay Tigar | COMMENT

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If you wear sunscreen regularly Of all the ways to ensure your skin is healthy and youthful, sunscreen is your strongest defense. So much so that nearly all dermatologists recommend applying SPF every single day, under or within your moisturizer — not only during the summer when sunshine makes a frequent appearance but year-round. You likely nod along when they remind you, but when you don't have your trusted doc harping over you — how diligent are you about this routine?

If you skip a day here and there, your derm probably won't call you out, but if you forget most of the time? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Papri Sarkar says she can tell a difference. She regularly has people come in sunburned or with ink spot lentigos, which are dark spots that are characteristic of having had a bad sunburn in the past. "Folks often come in with a tan or lots of sun spots, which give it away too," she says. This is when she steps right up on that soapbox to educate her patients on the best sun protection practices. When left untreated over time, these spots not only pack on the years, but could potentially lead to life-threatening cancers, too.

Image via Imaxtree

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