SPF: It’s Not Just for Summer
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

SPF: It’s Not Just for Summer

If you equate sunscreen with summer and tuck it away once the weather turns cool, you may need to rethink your strategy.

While it’s true that UVB rays are strongest in the summer, they can cause sunburn and lead to damage any season of the year. Winter is of particular concern in our region as snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, meaning you’re getting nearly a double dose of damaging rays on sunny days. Without proper protection, all that exposure can increase your risk of developing skin cancer and joining the ranks of the estimated 9,500 Americans diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Tragically, one person dies of melanoma—the deadliest type of skin cancer— every hour, every day. 

To reduce your risk in winter and beyond, keep these facts in tip in mind:

Elevation matters

Snowsport lovers have a higher chance of skin damage during the winter months as UV levels rise 4-5% with every 1000 feet of elevation above sea level gained.

Every day is a sunscreen day

Regardless of the temperature or cloud cover, applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to exposed skin should be a part of your daily routine. For best results, apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before heading outdoors.

The lips don’t lie

With very little melanin, the pigment that helps protect against sunburn, the lips are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body and the most prone to painful sunburn. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher when venturing out in any season. Be sure to reapply frequently, especially if eating, drinking, or swimming.

Measure once, apply twice (at least)

Sunscreen only works if you apply the correct amount and repeat application for extended stays outside. For your face, ears and neck, use approximately ⅓ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon of sunscreen. For the full body, bump the amount up to 1 to 2 ounces (enough to fill a shot glass). Be sure to re-apply every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.

You missed a spot

Parts of the body commonly missed when applying sunscreen include:

  • Tops of the ears

  • Back of the hands

  • Tops of the feet

  • Lips

  • Sides of the neck

  • Behind the knees

  • Eyelids

  • Scalp

  • Upper chest.

 

Lixia Ellis, MD, PhD is a dermatologist at SVMC Dermatology.

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A Note from SVMC Dentistry

Unlike many other types of health care, most dental procedures require that a patient be present in the office with their mouth uncovered and wide open. In addition, many dental procedures, produce a lot of spray or aerosolized particles that could spread infection. For these reasons, reopening dental offices while COVID-19 circulates requires many strict precautions to ensure safety for patients and staff.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health have issued the requirements necessary to reopen our office for patient care. For the next few months, the changes lessen by half the number of patients we are able to see per day and dramatically change the care experience.

Here are some of the changes we've made:

  • We are screening and testing our staff, and all staff are wearing more protective equipment than ever, including treatment gowns and gloves, head coverings, facemasks (such as surgical masks, N95 masks, or respirators), and face-shields, as required during treatment procedures.
  • Patients can use the "virtual" waiting room to lessen the number of people in our waiting room and observe social distancing. We ask that only one person accompany a patient to a dental appointment and only if the patient needs assistance.
  • We screen patients at the Medical Office Building entrance to ensure they have no symptoms and that they are wearing a facemask. Patients must wear their facemask at all times, except during the actual treatment.
  • Some preventive care and treatments carry a higher risk for producing airborne oral droplets. These procedures may be modified to ensure that care is safe.
  • Most dramatically, depending on the dental treatment, a room must remain idle for 15 minutes - 1 hour to allow droplets to settle before disinfection. This limits the number of patients that we can treat each day.

While it is very disappointing to us—after all, we became dentists and hygienists because we like to provide dental care—all existing appointments will be suspended and a new schedule will be created, based on the time it takes for a room to be disinfected. We understand that this is frustrating for patients who must wait longer than usual for an appointment, but it is also necessary to make care safe for all.

Major changes to the ventilation systems—the installation of HEPA filtration and negative-pressure in our treatment rooms—will eliminate airborne droplets more quickly and enable us to see more patients per day. This change is expected to be complete later this summer.

In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we meet your needs as best we can. We encourage you to continue vigilant home care and reach out to us with your questions. Most of all, we look forward to returning to a more normal time when we can deliver all of the dental care our community needs safely and efficiently.

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