Archives for June 2019

It’s time to dig out your swimsuit and shelve your sweaters: Summer is official here! We hope you have all sorts of fun plans for the season, like visiting the beach, strolling through a state fair, or taking a hike in nature. We have just one piece of advice: Make sure that you’re taking care of your skin as you enjoy the summer sun. Below are a few everyday tips for lowering your risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

👒 Wear a hat: A hat with a brim will keep sunlight from hitting your face directly, helping you to avoid UV damage. The wider the brim, the better!

👕 Cover up when you can: If you can comfortably wear long sleeves or long pants, the fabric will help to keep your skin from burning in the sun.

☂️ Pack a parasol: When you’re walking through an area without much shade cover, bring your own shade! If you want to be extra careful, choose a parasol with a UPF value. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor—like SPF, but for fabric. Parasols (and clothes) with a UPF value are proven to screen out harmful UV rays. 

👧 Slather on sunscreen: Sometimes, you can’t avoid the sun hitting your skin. You might not always want to avoid it! Just cover any exposed skin in sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you need to stock up, you’re in luck: We’re selling some of our favorite, dermatologist-recommended sunscreen brands at 20% off.

However you choose to protect your skin, we hope it helps you enjoy the season. If you have any concerns, or if you want a personalized plan for your skin health, just make an appointment with us. Happy summer!

Yours in good health,

Your West Dermatology Team

First things first: there are two types of sunburns, both caused by UV Rays, and the deeper the burn, the more severe the damage.

First-degree burns: reddens the skin and feels painful, but only affects the outer layer of skin.

Second-degree burns: turn bright red and produce blisters, causing harm to the nerves and the deeper layer of skin.

✔️For people between the ages of 15 and 20: 1-4 sunburns increase Melanoma risk by about 60%

✔️ 5+ sunburns increase melanoma risk by 80%

To schedule a skin check, click HERE

If you’ve ever had a sunburn, you know they’re sensitive and painful—unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage, and over time, they increase your odds of skin cancer. For Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we’re helping you recognize the types of sunburns, understand the risks, and stop them before they start.

Types of sunburns:

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 and is the MOST COMMON cancer in the United States. Research even suggests that regular sunscreen can in fact reduce melanoma risk.

Avoiding a sunburn is EASY AS wearing protective clothingand slathering on sunscreen.(Don’t forget, our favorite sunscreen brands are 20% off this month!)If you’re concerned about your sun sensitivity or you have any questionsabout skin damage, just make an appointment.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and we have a favorite way to honor the occasion…GETTING SKIN CHECKS!

As a company, we’ve encouraged every single one of our doctors and staff to get their skin checked, and now we’re asking you to take the same painless step to protect your skin.

DID YOU KNOW? A 15-minute skin check could save your life. Early detection leads to prevention.

Lower your risk and wear sunscreen every day. We’re offering our recommended brands at 20% OFF!