The warm months are here and if you love the beach and sun as much as I do, you will definitely be showing some skin. A lot of times we slap on sunscreen because we know we need to, but we tend to focus on the most obvious areas and forget some still important parts of the body to protect. It's important that we get all the right spots. Here are six places that are commonly forgotten, but just as important!
1. The scalp
Though your hair does give your scalp some protection from the sun, it's not 100% protected. Hats are great for the summer for this reason.
Most people don't realize this, but scalp cancer is more common than you would think.
"Skin cancer is very common on the scalp in thinning individuals — males and females — since it usually stands out to get direct sun exposure," says Dr. Paul McAndrews, clinical professor at the USC School of Medicine, in an LA Times article. If you are wearing twists or braids in the summer your scalp is definitely vulnerable as it is exposed in the parts. Try rubbing some sunscreen on the areas that will be showing.
2. Lips
Lip cancer is a serious, but often overlooked cancer. SPF 30 or higher is recommended for the lips in the warm sunny months. Most good lip balms have this added in. Check to make sure you are using one that does!
3. Ears
It's so easy to forget about your earlobes, ear rims, and the bowls of the ears. Sun exposure doesn't discriminate.
The ears were listed as the third most frequent site for skin cancers in a 2007 study from the Skin Cancer Foundation. If any part of your ear is exposed, it is vulnerable!
4. Tops of feet
In all those cute sandals and flip flops, the tops of the feet are directly exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, making them especially vulnerable and often forgotten.
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Make sure to apply sunscreen on all parts of the feet, and waterproof sunscreen if you plan to be in the water.
5. Under your clothes
Many times we find ourselves applying sunscreen to the parts of our body not covered up by our clothing. It's especially important not to do this.
Melanoma, the third most common skin cancer among all racial groups, most often occurs in African Americans on non-exposed skin with less pigment, like the soles, palms and under the nails.
After applying a good all-over moisturizer, like Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Shea Butter Lotion, remember to apply your sunblock prior to putting on your clothes/swimsuit and other places not seen as easily by the sun like the insides of your hands.
6. Back of the knees
I think most people probably forget to put plain old lotion on this part of their body! The crease of the knee needs just as much attention as the front. This is not only a very sensitive and vulnerable area when it comes to sun exposure, but it's also a very painful one to have sunburn in.
