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“One in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime,” says Miranda Lyons, an aesthetician with Essentia Health’s Skin Renewal Center in Duluth. “So it’s important to protect your skin while you are enjoying the summer days.”
Lyons says to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50. And it’s also important to layer it on pretty thick.
“Many people think they only need sunscreen so they don’t burn. When in reality, even if you are tan, you are still being exposed to dangerous UV rays,” Lyons says.
If you do get sunburn, it’s important to get out of the sun right away and cool down your skin. Lyons recommends cooling the skin with a cool shower, then using moisturizing aloe Vera products to prevent peeling.
Many people forget to protect their lips. “Lip cancer is on the rise in Minnesota, so it’s important that people remember to protect their lips when they’re out in the sun,” Lyons says. The Skin Renewal Center carries lip balm with SPF, along with powder sunscreens for the face.
Woman doing cosmetic procedures in spa clinic
- Asymmetry: If you have a mole that is asymmetrical, that’s a warning sign for melanoma, a serious skin cancer.
- Border: A benign mole has smooth borders. Early melanomas tend to have uneven borders.
- Color: Most benign moles have one color. A variety of colors is a warning sign.
- Diameter: Benign moles are usually smaller in diameter. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser end of a pencil.
- Evolving: Benign moles tend to stay the same over time. Be on the lookout for a mole that evolves or changes.
