Read Full Article HerePat McMahon talked with Jacqueline Watchmaker, a dermatologist at Southwest Skin, and the first thing he asked her was if there was such a thing as a safe tan. “No. When you get a tan and even a little bronze color to your skin, I tell patients that’s kind of like your skin cells screaming that they need help.”
“I’m very realistic. You know, we live in Arizona. I like going outside into the pool too. People are going to be spending time outdoors and there is a safe way to do it.” Watchmaker says if you will be outside, use an SPF 50 or above and reapply every two hours. She also recommends wearing protective clothing to cover more of your skin.
Be sure to remember to apply sunscreen to your ears, men’s scalps and the backs of your hands.
As far as how often you should see a dermatologist, Watchmaker says it depends. If you have a significant history of sun exposure or a previous history of skin cancer, you should see a dermatologist at least once a year. For the rest of us, it’s not a bad idea to go in at least once and then follow the dermatologist’s guidelines for how often you should go back.
