The Doc Is In: Sunscreen Tips From Dr. Jacob Kusmak, Sanford Health Dermatology Specialist
Jun 13, 2022 ● By The Hood Magazine
Sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine, but there's no doubt the warm summer months it is especially important!
When Spring and Summer hit, the stores aisles fill with sunscreens of all kind and brands. So which one should you use? The one you like!
Dr. Jacob Kusmak, Sanford Health Dermatology Specialist says, “The sunscreen that works the best, is the one that you use! So find one that you like to use, and keep using it.”
If you are dealing with sensitive skin he says, “One of the easiest tolerated and still one of the most effective sunscreens is Zinc Oxide ... the exact same stuff used as diaper cream and diaper rashes. It is extremely rare for anyone to have sensitivity to this product . The difficulty with this sunscreen though is it can be very white and pasty and difficult to rub in. However, there now are Clear Zinc Oxide sunscreen formulations that have the same benefits, and are easier to run in the skin, which I recommend quite often.”
When it comes time for when to apply and how often he says, “As a Board Certified Dermatologist , and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), I follow the recommendations outlined by the AAD when discussing recommendations for sunscreen with patients.”
The AAD says:
When Spring and Summer hit, the stores aisles fill with sunscreens of all kind and brands. So which one should you use? The one you like!
Dr. Jacob Kusmak, Sanford Health Dermatology Specialist says, “The sunscreen that works the best, is the one that you use! So find one that you like to use, and keep using it.”
If you are dealing with sensitive skin he says, “One of the easiest tolerated and still one of the most effective sunscreens is Zinc Oxide ... the exact same stuff used as diaper cream and diaper rashes. It is extremely rare for anyone to have sensitivity to this product . The difficulty with this sunscreen though is it can be very white and pasty and difficult to rub in. However, there now are Clear Zinc Oxide sunscreen formulations that have the same benefits, and are easier to run in the skin, which I recommend quite often.”
When it comes time for when to apply and how often he says, “As a Board Certified Dermatologist , and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), I follow the recommendations outlined by the AAD when discussing recommendations for sunscreen with patients.”
The AAD says:
Most people only apply about 20–50% of the amount of sunscreen needed to achieve the amount of SPF on the label.
Apply enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin. Most adults need about 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — to fully cover their entire body.
Don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears and the top of your head.
Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors.
Skin cancer also can form on the lips. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
When outdoors, reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, according to the directions on the bottle.