Am I At Risk from Sunscreens That Claim Good Protection, But When You Look at the Fine Print  Not So Much? What You Need to Know for Skin Cancer Awareness Month

There are some key actions you can take to lower your skin cancer risk, including wearing sunscreen. Some products, however, like certain makeups which claim to contain SPF, can give a false sense of security. Be sure to do your research, and don’t rely on makeup over sunscreen for adequate skin protection.

Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer

Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends you use no less than SPF 30 and reapply it every two hours. Your sunscreen should also be broad-spectrum, says Dr. Larocca, meaning it covers both UVB and UVA rays.

According to Dr. Larocca, people usually only get about 50% of the SPF on the label. So, if you're using SPF 60, you're really getting closer 30 SPF of protection. To make sure you're getting the right protection, she also recommends using sunscreen every two hours and wearing protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses.

According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, you should:

• Avoid sun exposure during peak hours when the sun's rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside
• Use at least SPF 30 broad spectrum sunblock and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors
• Following these guidelines will help reduce your risk of skin damage and future skin cancer.

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

How to Protect Your Skin

There are other ways to protect your skin, too. Not only can you take preventative action, but also by getting annual skin checks you can stay on top of your skin health.

In an earlier interview, dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman outlines five easy ways to protect your skin, and lower your skin cancer risk. She tells us:

• 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 often.
• 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. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman says.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

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