Dr. Alex's Blog: Proper sunscreen application

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Proper sunscreen application

Proper sunscreen application begins with choosing the right sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 with UVA and UVB protection. This should be evident on the label. As long as these criteria are met, use any such sunscreen that is comfortable.

Sunscreen should be the last step in a skin care regimen in the morning before any makeup (if any). The amount required for an appropriate application to the face is approximately the size of a quarter. It should cover all exposed surfaces of the skin. Common areas that are missed include the ears, front and back of the neck, and upper chest. Sunscreen should also be applied to all exposed areas of the body, including the trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Spray on sunscreens work well for these areas.

Makeup or moisturizers that contain sunscreen should not be used as a substitute for sunscreen or part of the SPF. For example if a moisturizer contains SPF 15, adding a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will not necessarily bring the total SPF to 30. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to going outside so it can be completely absorbed for a full effect. It should be applied whether the forecast calls for overcast or sunny skies. It should be applied year round. If outside for long periods of time, it should be re-applied every couple of hours.

In the event of water exposure such as when at the pool or the beach, sunscreen should be re-applied more often. Sunscreens are not waterproof. Some sunscreens claim to be water resistant, meaning that they are still active after water exposure. However, re-application after water exposure is highly recommended.

With proper sunscreen application and sun protective behavior, risks of wrinkles, discolorations, and skin cancer can be minimized.

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Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD was raised in Los Angeles, CA. He attended UCLA for college and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Biology in 1998. He received many accolades including Phi Beta Kappa, College Honors, Departmental Honors, Goldenkey International Honour Society, and Mortar Board National Honors Society.

In 2000, Dr. Alex moved to Nashville, TN to attend the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s distinguished Medical Scientist Training Program. With scholarships from the National Institutes of Health and the Canby Robinson Society, he graduated with an MD and a PhD. Dr. Alex completed his post-graduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Alex has had clinical training in dermatology at Vanderbilt University, UC Irvine, USC, UCLA, University of New Mexico, Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals in Nashville, TN, Albuquerque, NM, Long Beach, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, as well as in various private clinics in southern California. He is also certified in the injection of Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers as well as in the use of lasers for cosmetic applications.

Dr. Alex has done research for over a decade. His interest in research was sparked early in college when he worked in a nephrology lab. He then spent four years in a molecular biology lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA under the direction of Harold G. Martinson, PhD. His dissertation in graduate school was in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the laboratory of James E. Sligh, MD, PhD where he studied genetic factors involved in photo-aging of the skin and in non-melanoma skin cancer. He has given oral and poster presentations at numerous conferences including the American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and American Society for Human Genetics. He has publications in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, and Cardiovascular Toxicology. He is also a contributing author for the Textbook of Aging Skin.

Dr. Alex has held a number of leadership positions including University of New Mexico School of Medicine Resident Voice committee member, Committee of Interns and Residents member, Dermatology Interest Group Association president and founding member, Executive Board member of Vanderbilt Hillel, Vanderbilt University MSTP Physician Scientist Speaker Series Committee member, Vanderbilt University Careers in Medicine Interest Group member, Vanderbilt University MSTP Student Advisory Committee member, and Vanderbilt University Dermatology Interest Group president. He has also participated in numerous service activities including Miles for Melanoma, Sun Protection Project, Camp Discovery, Links for Locks, and the Shade Tree Clinic.

At Alex Eshaghian Medical, Dr. Alex is translating his research in photo-aging to his clinical practice. His passion is to prevent signs of aging in the skin to make patients look and feel their best.