Sun protection goes beyond simply using a sunscreen you like. It’s about “protecting yourself,” and there are many ways to do that—not just with creams, even though we tend to associate it with them. In the following points, I’ll explain why slapping on some sunscreen isn’t enough.

2. Optimize your sun exposure schedule

It goes without saying that being out in the sun at 8 a.m. is not the same as being out at 2 p.m. Choosing the least harmful times of day—by avoiding the middle of the day—is also a form of sun protection.

The same applies to different geographic locations and times of year.

The UV index, available on many weather websites, provides additional information on this topic.

3. Wear sun-protective clothing

In line with point 1, clothing designed for this purpose is a great way to ensure adequate sun protection.

Starting with a beach umbrella, followed by a good hat (preferably one that covers your ears), and T-shirts or cover-ups with UPF 50. Clothing with this rating blocks 98% of UVB rays.

4. Apply sunscreen properly

Now that we’ve covered the points above, sunscreen is an excellent way to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful effects. What’s the best way to use it?

• Apply the appropriate amount to all areas exposed to the sun. The correct amount is 2 g per square centimeter of skin. For an adult, the correct amount is estimated to be about the volume of a shot glass . That’s probably much more than any of us actually use.
• Sprays and aerosols are somewhat less reliable, because part of the applied amount does not reach the skin properly.
• It is not essential to apply the sunscreen 30 minutes in advance, as has traditionally been recommended. Five to ten minutes is sufficient.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, after swimming, and if you sweat a lot.

¿Tienes alguna duda sobre fotoprotección? Comenta e intentaré ayudarte.

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Although melanomas are more likely to appear on normal skin (without a previous mole), most of them appear on “normal” moles on the skin. That is why it is important to monitor any changes in our moles using simple guidelines (ABCDE rules) for the early detection of melanoma.

WHAT IS DERMOSCOPY?

Dermatoscopy is a technique developed by dermatologists for monitoring moles. It can be performed using a handheld dermatoscope or a digital dermatoscopy device.

Manual dermoscopy:

A manual dermatoscope is simply a type of “magnifying glass” that allows moles to be observed at higher magnification. When observing moles with the dermatoscope, patterns are assessed that provide guidance on the benignity, malignancy, or “uncertainty” of that mole. Based on this, and on how “disturbing” the mole is, the dermatologist may decide to remove it.

Digital dermatoscopy:

It allows all of a person’s moles to be photographed and monitored individually over time. The technique is also often referred to by the trade name of the most commonly used devices: Fotofinder® or Molemax®. In this way, if any “suspicious” changes are observed in any of them that indicate possible malignancy, they will be removed at an early stage, preventing them from “deepening” and thus worsening their prognosis. This is the most effective technique available today for mole monitoring.

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Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in humans and also the most common skin cancer. It consists of small bumps or nodules that are usually the same color as normal skin (sometimes they are pigmented, brown, or grayish, resembling moles), which may or may not have an ulcerated area and normally appear in areas exposed to the sun (although not always). They can take on very different appearances, as you can see in these photos.

The term cancer tends to be quite frightening, but in the case of basal cell carcinoma, in most cases it does not have significant repercussions, as is the case with other malignant tumors. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma grows locally, that is, only in the area where it appears on the skin, and does not spread to other parts of the body or internal organs. In any case, it must be treated in all cases, because if it grows, it can ulcerate or invade “delicate” areas, destroying the area where it is located (for example, if it is close to the eyes, it can affect some of their structures, or similarly in the nose, where it can damage the cartilage by invading deeply).

It is common to consult a dermatologist in time, and it is very rare for basal cell carcinoma to have fatal consequences.

In another post, I will discuss the options we have for treating basal cell carcinomas, which in the vast majority of cases can be cured :).

The post What is an epithelioma or basal cell carcinoma? first appeared on Dra. LOREA BAGAZGOITIA.

However, creams are an excellent ally in blocking the effects of UV radiation on exposed skin that we can’t protect in other ways. For this reason, I think it’s interesting to debunk three common myths that often cause confusion when using sunscreen during holidays.

1. You need to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure → FALSE

You’ve probably read and heard this recommendation in countless pamphlets. However, contrary to what was believed and recommended years ago, we now know that sunscreen products are effective within minutes of being applied to the skin, and no waiting time is needed for them to “activate.”

This was demonstrated by a group of researchers in Málaga a few years ago. I talk about it in this article.

From a purely practical perspective, however, this recommendation does make a lot of sense. Applying sunscreen at home, calmly and before heading to the beach or pool, likely allows for a more even and meticulous application of the product, which leads to better prevention of sun damage. It’s not the same to quickly spray sunscreen onto sweaty skin right before the first swim, as it is to thoroughly cover all dry skin with a fluid cream in a step-by-step manner.

2. The SPF number tells you how many minutes you can stay in the sun → FALSE

This is a widespread belief, but the idea that SPF 20 means you can stay in the sun for 20 minutes is completely incorrect.

SPF is the index that reflects a sunscreen’s ability to block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which are responsible for sunburn.

Therefore, SPF indicates how many times the minimal erythema dose (the amount of sun exposure that causes the skin to redden) is multiplied when using sunscreen compared to no protection. So, if you normally burn after 10 minutes without sunscreen, using SPF 20 would mean you could be exposed to the same intensity of sunlight for 200 minutes before burning.

However, since sunscreen can gradually be removed from the skin due to sweating, swimming, and natural skin processes, it’s always recommended to reapply it every 2–3 hours.

3. SPF 100 protects twice as much as SPF 50 → FALSE

Sunscreens available in pharmacies come in a wide range of SPF values. When looking for a good product, it’s logical to opt for SPF 100 over lower values like 50, because a higher number seems to imply better protection. It seems reasonable to think that SPF 100 protects twice as much as SPF 50.

Although this assumption is understandable and partly true, the difference in protection between the two is not double—it’s much smaller (as shown in the chart below), so small that experts consider it negligible.

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However, this idea is not advisable because any dose of UVA that your skin receives, far from protecting or preparing it, reinforces the path to melanoma or carcinoma. Tanning, far from being a sign of health, is a sign of skin suffering. The skin, when exposed to the sun, feels attacked and therefore becomes pigmented. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

UVA rays have a high oxidative power, penetrating deep into the dermis, which in the long term has repercussions on the development of cancer. As for the damage they can cause, it makes no difference whether these rays come from the sun or from a machine that produces them.

Since 2009, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) belonging to the WHO considers UV lamps (as well as solar radiation) a group 1 carcinogen. Belonging to this group means that their involvement in the development of a particular type of cancer (in this case, skin cancer) is clearly established scientifically and therefore the WHO advises against their contact with the skin.

But what do we know so far about the influence of UVA rays on skin cancer? Here is what science has shown about the different types of skin cancer.

UVA radiation and melanoma

It has been statistically proven that there is a higher risk of developing melanoma in those people with previous use of UVA lamps. Although the more sessions, the higher the risk, it has been shown that there is a significant increase in the probability of developing melanoma from 10 sessions in a lifetime. Researchers calculated that for each extra session per year, the risk increases by 1.8%.

In addition, in a paper recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, it was observed that people who have taken UVA rays are more likely to develop more than one melanoma (in some cases, up to 4) in a lifetime.

UVA radiation and non-melanoma skin cancer

Although there are fewer studies focusing on these cancers (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) and their relationship to UV light, the available evidence supports that there is an increased risk in both cases. Cases of non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to UVA rays are considered to be comparable to those of lung cancer caused by tobacco.

In conclusion…

The scientific publications available so far establish that there is a clear relationship between the use of UVA rays/sunbeds and the appearance of the most frequent types of skin cancer. Spain prohibits their use in children under 18 years of age, but despite all the evidence I have shared with you, they are still available for the rest of the population.

I hope, with this article, I have contributed to make you think twice before using a tanning salon next time.

Have you ever used sunbeds?

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