Solution: Don't scrimp or be stingy with the sunscreen -- be sure to cover your entire body. Evans has a simple pocket change MO for application (note: these are general amounts -- use more if you're Kobe-sized): Put at least a nickel-sized amount in the palm of your hand and apply it to your face -- not pea or pearl size, says Evans. Then, if you're body is going to be exposed, use a quarter-sized amount for your torso, a nickel for each arm, a quarter for your back and two quarters for your lower extremities. And don't forget your feet and toes!
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Mistake: Thinking you're exempt because you have dark or olive skin
Solution: You're not; you still need sunscreen. We live in a different environment now -- the ozone layer is not as strong as it used to be, says Evans. And while your ancestors might have gotten away with not wearing sunscreen, things have changed environmentally, so you need to make sure you're applying and reapplying. The myth about dark skin not needing protection is just that -- a myth. In truth, it's actually harder to tell when dark skin has developed cancerous moles, since it has usually progressed significantly by the time they can be detected. One more reason to slather up!
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Mistake: Not wearing a high enough SPF while outdoors
Solution: The short answer is, if you are going to be at the beach or pool, wear a waterproof/sweatproof SPF 30. "No city sunscreen for sport and sweating," says Jailman. This is especially critical if you burn easily or have skin issues like hyperpigmentation or a history of skin cancer. And if you want to wear a lower SPF, just be sure to apply it more often.
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Mistake: Not applying often enough
Solution: Here are Dr. Evans' rules for how often to apply SPF if you're going to be outside all day (at the beach, hiking or the like): If you're fair, apply sunscreen every two hours; if you're more olive, every three or four hours; if you're darker, three times a day. And all skin tones should apply more often if you're in and out of the water.
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Mistake: Neglecting to wear sunscreen in the winter while driving or working indoors
Solution: Many of the skin cancer cases that Evans has seen are on the left side of the body (hint: your arm is exposed when you drive). Her solution? "Get chauffeured!" Kidding (though wouldn't that be nice?). To be on the safe side, she suggests wearing SPF every day. For example, if you're in New York and it's winter, you should still wear an SPF 15 on your face, says Evans. If you loathe sunscreen in a lotion form because it makes your face feel oily, try a powder sunscreen like Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45, $30. It's water- and sweat-proof, says Jailman. Plus, it adds a little color to your complexion and is great for acne-prone skin.
Raise your hand if you've ever gotten an embarrassing, lobster-like sunburn or a dorky farmer's tan. Yup, us too. What about having tanorexic tendencies by soaking up the sun any chance you get and/or hitting up the tanning bed for that insta-bronze and rush of endorphins? Check. Or what about arduously applying sunscreen, but missing that big patch on your upper back, the tops of your feet or your scalp? Check. If you're guilty as charged to some of these sunscreen offenses, then let's get with it already and make healthy skin a priority.
Expert dermatologists Dr. Linda Evans and Dr. Debra Jailman set the record straight about some of the many sunscreen misconceptions out there. And here they offer up solutions to the mistakes you might be making by clarifying things like how much sunscreen you should use and how often to apply it, and they suggest winning skin care products that'll prevent sun damage -- since it's not healthy or pretty. Case in point: Evans said that she has a few patients who are older nuns (yes, nuns see dermatologists too) and they have minimal skin damage (thanks to years wearing habits and never exposing their bodies). On the other hand, her patients who worship the sun have skin with way more free-radical damage and consequently look a lot older. While we're not suggesting that you need to take vows of poverty, chastity and service and never wear a bikini again to keep your skin safe -- we are saying it might be time to stop making these common sunscreen mistakes that can damage your skin for good.
