Jennifer Garner Prevents Skin Cancer
- In a new interview with Shape magazine, Actress Jennifer Garner, 49, shares her skin protection routines to prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S.
- Jennifer wears daily sunscreen, which she says not only protects her from skin cancer but helps keep her skin looking good, too.
- Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen, avoiding peak sunlight hours, covering your skin, and avoiding tanning beds.
Jennifer has beauty, brains, and brawn (See: her film Elektra), and she’s also been a vocal and steadfast supporter of young people battling cancer.
Read MoreJennifer’s Skin Protection Regimen
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S. It’s important to protect your skin on a daily basis, and that can be done in simple ways like wearing sunscreen every day.Related: Related: Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often
The Yes Day actress shares with Shape what her skin regimen looks like. And it sounds like she’s learned a lot from her longtime partnership with skincare company Neutrogena. She says, “They have drilled into me that sun protection is non-negotiable. It seems crazy that the answer is so simple, but it is: Plain old…sunscreen, which you can find at any drugstore, can prevent skin cancer and keep your skin looking good.”
When it comes to choosing sunscreen, there are a few factors you should be aware of, so that you're able to choose the one that is best for you. Dermatologic surgeon Dr. Snehal Amin offers tips in an earlier interview about how to pick a sunscreen.
"My recommendation is really focus on the ingredients rather than the brands," says Dr. Amin. "If you like the way the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand for instance, sport versus daily use or daytime use versus a short burst of activity use I think those are more important factors than actual brands."
Jennifer says she uses a variety or a “wardrobe” of creams to protect against UV rays. “I use a wardrobe of sunscreen options an SPF serum first thing in the morning, an SPF mist later in the day, an SPF spray that I keep in the door of the car, and a stick,” she explains.
For Jen, it’s not just about the exterior, but the interior, too, when it comes to wellness. She shares with the wellness-focused magazine that activities focused on her mental health are important as well. Jennifer cites meditation and time with loved ones as important for her well-being.
“A while back, it was so hard to grab time for myself that I decided to devote one month to scheduling walks with as many girlfriends as I could during any free minutes that I had,” she says. “I called it the girlfriend project, which helped build it into my schedule. I’d say to each friend, ‘What time can you walk on Saturday? I’m coming to you.’ It filled me up so much. I need to do it again.”
Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?
How to Protect Your Skin from Cancer
As Garner notes, wearing sunscreen daily is an excellent way to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, which can cause skin cancer.
In an earlier interview, dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engleman outlines the top five ways to protect your skin. She says:
- Avoid the sun during peak hours This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
- Cover your skin and eyes A wide brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Reapply every few hours.
- Get an annual skin check You can check your own skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it ASAP it is always worth it to make sure.
- Avoid tanning beds This one is obvious … but just a reminder, tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
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