South SFV Today

As summer approaches, concerns about the health effects of sun exposure on the skin become more prevalent. Zakia Rahman, a clinical dermatologist at Stanford Health Care and affiliate faculty at the Stanford Center on Longevity, offers practical advice for maintaining healthy skin during the warmer months.

“It’s not about vanity. It’s about vitality,” said Rahman. “We’ve had the greatest increase in human life expectancy, which means that we need to live, work, and take care of ourselves for a long time. And people do want to take care of their hair, their skin, their nails. I think that’s a good thing.”

Rahman shares five key tips for summer skincare:

1. **Consider your clothing**: While hats and sunglasses are common choices for sun protection, Rahman recommends investing in clothing with Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF). She advises keeping UPF-rated long-sleeve shirts, gloves, and hats handy for driving or outdoor activities. "If you take a white T-shirt that’s been washed a bunch of times," she notes, "it’s possible to get a sunburn even under your clothing."

2. **Be sweat-smart**: Loose-fitting long sleeves and pants can enhance evaporative cooling by allowing airflow over the body. Frequent showers can break down the skin barrier; therefore, Rahman suggests only soaping areas with apocrine glands—armpits and groin—and emphasizes moisturizing to counteract fluid loss from sweating.

3. **Know your sunblocks and sunscreens**: Sunscreen absorbs UV light particles and converts them to heat while sunblock reflects UV light without absorption. The FDA recognizes zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as safe physical blockers but acknowledges other chemical ingredients in many products.

4. **Choose wisely and apply properly**: High-end products are not always necessary; effective skincare can be achieved with affordable options like gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and proper sunscreen application. Most people apply less than needed; hence dermatologists recommend higher SPFs to ensure adequate protection.

5. **Do what works for you**: Individual needs vary based on personal circumstances such as eye color or hairstyle which may influence susceptibility to UV damage in specific areas like eyes or scalp.

Rahman stresses moderation in following these recommendations without compromising enjoyment of life activities. “True beauty is an inside job,” she concludes.

Zakia Rahman is also a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

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