Doctor shares ways to prevent sunburn and protect skin during summer
Dr. Levy Wallace, of Montefiore Einstein Hospital, joined News 12 to discuss ways people can safely enjoy time in the sun this season.
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Summer sunshine can bring more than fun outdoors, and health experts are reminding people to protect their skin from sunburn.
Dr. Levy Wallace, of Montefiore Einstein Hospital, joined News 12 to discuss ways people can safely enjoy time in the sun this season.
Wallace says sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.
He said most people do not use enough sunscreen to get the level of protection listed on the bottle.
"You should be applying about 1 ounce, that's roughly enough to fill a shot glass, to cover your entire body," Wallace said.
Wallace said sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially during long days at the beach or pool.
He recommends using at least SPF 30.
"SPF 30 blocks about 90% of the sun's UV rays while SPF 50 blocks about 98%," Wallace said.
He said SPF 50 can provide additional protection for people with fair skin, a history of skin cancer or those spending extended periods outdoors.
Wallace said people who get sunburned should keep an eye on changes in their skin.
"If you start seeing dark spots, rough or scaly patches, areas of the skin that just don't seem to heal, you want to get evaluated because that could be early signs of skin cancer," Wallace said.
