May 19, 2007
Get Your Skin Ready For The Summer
Dr. Mallika Marshall Outlines Important Steps To Take To Stay Healthy In The Sun
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Play CBS Video Video Healthy Skin In The Sun Dr. Mallika Marshall gives Jeff Glore some useful and easy tips to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing in the hot summer. Most importantly, wear your sunscreen and stop tanning.
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(AP / CBS)
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Quiz Skin Care See if you know some bits of information about your epidermis.
There's no way to tan without damaging your skin "to one degree or another," says Dr. Mallika Marshall, a frequent Early Show guest. "Whether you spend a week on the beach turning yourself into a lobster or spend years steadily bronzing in the sun or in tanning booths, you are causing damage that is difficult to undo and could well result in cancer."
And even if you are conscientious about using a sunblock, you could still suffer skin damage if you're not using it correctly. "Apply it to all exposed areas of the skin, including the scalp," Marshall says. "And use goo-gobs of it ... the more the better. Don't forget to reapply it every two hours — sooner if you've been sweating or swimming."
What are the best things to wear if you're going to have prolonged exposure to the sun — say, during a round of golf or a family picnic? Cancer-causing UV rays "do go through fabric," Marshall says. "And contrary to what most people believe, white is not the best color to wear for sun protection. In fact, the darker the color of the fabric, the more UV it absorbs."
Marshall says it's also important to consider the type of fabric you wear. "We think of linen as the ideal summer fabric: it's light and cool, because it's loosely woven," says Marshall. "But that's exactly what makes linen the worst for UV protection. A lot of the harmful rays zip right through."
One thing to consider are some of the new types of UV-resistant fabrics that have recently come onto the market — some block up to 98 percent of UV radiation.
If you've already damaged your skin, there's little you can do to repair it. Some products with Retin-A can help restore damaged skin, and chemical peels and laser therapy can exfoliate skin. Going forward, Marshall says, there are two important steps you can take:
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- I have never used sunblock. I am in my 50s. I have always covered up when in the sun. I never cared about tan. I know the sun burns the skin and it don't matter the skin of the person. I have to wear a hat to keep the sun out of eyes.
I am white and visually impaired.
I think the reason white females who are young gets a tan,is males.
The tan ages the skin as well. - Reply to this comment
- Why do white people want to get a tan? It doesn't really enhance your looks, the skin looks discolored.
One thing blacks forget is that they too can get a sunburn and do. You have to all use sunblock too!
Also the sun reflects off water and can intesify that burn. - Reply to this comment
