Fun in the sun is one of the best ways to spend our days. 

Whether it is a day trip to the beach, a weekend hiking and camping trip to the great outdoors, or simply a Sunday afternoon picnic in the park, these experiences are best enjoyed with excellent weather. 

But when we venture outside into the unprotected rays of the sun, more than tanning happens to our skin if we don’t take the proper precautions. The UV rays emitted by the sun can cause us serious harm, resulting in aesthetically non-pleasing sunspots and freckles, or, far worse, the consequences of dangerous skin cancers.  

Fortunately, a cheap and readily available barrier exists that protects our skin when we enjoy the sun – sunscreen. Most of us use it, but surprisingly, most of us misuse it and don’t get the maximum benefits from sunscreen. 

Here, Dr. Maya Kato of Aesthetic Art Facial Rejuvenation covers the five most common sunscreen mistakes and how to avoid them so that you can get the best out of your outside playtime. 

Infrequent Application

Sunscreen works by using active ingredients– titanium dioxide and zinc oxide– that sit on top of the skin and block the sun’s UV rays from coming into contact with our skin cells. This prevents damage to the cells, but only for as long as the ingredients are there. 

Most sunscreens wear off after two hours and require reapplication to remain active. So, be sure to lather up at least every two hours that you are outside. 

Not Using Enough

Most people don’t use enough sunscreen to provide maximum sun protection. 

Every part of skin that is exposed to the sun should be covered. For an average adult wearing swim shorts or a bikini, the necessary amount of sunscreen to adequately cover their whole body is around 30ml, equivalent to a shot glass worth of sunscreen. 

Not adequately covering your skin is akin to not having sunscreen on, so err on the side of caution and use more sunscreen than you think you need. 

Using Old, Expired Products

Once sunscreen is past its used by date, the SPF (sun protection factor) drops rapidly. Because of this, it might not provide any protection.

Be sure to check your sunscreen; if it’s out of date, get a new bottle. It is possible that using out of date sunscreen can lead to early aging by over-exposure to the sun. If you are concerned that you may have existing sun damage, perhaps consider our skin products or a liquid facelift to restore your skin.  

Not Making it a Habit

Always be prepared to enjoy the sun with maximum safety. Even your daily fifteen-minute walk from your office to your favorite café can be enough for the sun to damage your skin. 

We recommend habitually applying sunscreen to your face, the backs of your hands, and other exposed skin. If you make sun protection part of your skincare routine, you will drastically reduce the aging process. 

Its Cloudy – No Need for Sunscreen

This is a prevalent, and bad, mistake. 

Many think that clouds work as an effective sun-blocker, but this is not the case. Cloudy days can amplify UV rays by the “broken cloud” effect, which is caused by the refraction of sunbeams.   

Learn More

Dr. Maya Kato offers industry-leading advice on sun care, along with some of the best procedures to reverse the sun’s adverse effects on the skin. Reach out to our award-winning surgeon at 760 610 5558 or arrange a virtual consultation from the safety of your own home today.