Fairfield County Look - Summer is Here! How Do We Take Care of Our Skin?

Summer is Here! How Do We Take Care of Our Skin?

By Dr. Debra Pruzan-Clain

Do people still bake themselves in the sun the way they used to?
Yes, we still have patients who come into the office saying they, "love the sun." My feeling is, there are lots of worse vices so I tend not to lecture people about the dangers of sunbathing. I usually tell them that in an ideal world, "wear a hat, wear your sunscreen, and don't lay out for the purposes of getting a tan." I play tennis, I play golf. It's impossible to avoid the sun between 10 and 4 as we're advised to do. Do the best you can.

What are your suggestions for someone who is going to spend a long extended time period outside?
Some examples would be a daylong yachting trip or a tennis tournament all weekend long. I grew up sailing. Being on a boat is one of the hardest places to avoid the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, wear a hat with as big a brim as styles will allow. The Tilley hats work well because the chin tie helps prevent it from blowing away.

Please tell us your suggestions for toddlers and babies with sensitive skin.
New studies show that sun is particularly damaging to babies 6 months old or younger. Sunscreens are not approved in this age group. Keep your babies in the shade when they're outside. Sunscreens with zinc or titanium dioxide are very effective and the most hypoallergenic. Sun protective clothing with SPF built into the fabric have become very popular for kids. Try Sunprecautions.com or Coolibar.com. I love the Flapdoodle hats which cover kids necks.

Is waterproof lotion really waterproof? How often should we re-apply?
No. There really is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. Sunscreen must be reapplied after swimming. Sunscreen lasts about 2 to 4 hours. If I'm out all day, I reapply once. New labeling regulations no longer allow the designation "waterproof" to be use on sunscreens.

Are there any specific brands we should buy or is there something specific we should look for on the label of the cream?
I particularly like Anthelios and Neutrogena sunscreens for the face. Sunscreens should protect from both UVA and UVB rays. I recommend an SPF of 30 or higher.

What are your opinions on the new spray on sports mists?
Sprays don't cover as well but they're better than nothing. I used them on my kids when they were little as I chased them down the beach. I like them for legs and back. It's easy. We all hate spreading on creams.

Many people pre-tan before going in the sun at tanning booths. Is there any advantage to getting your skin gradually used to the sun by doing this?
Tanning booths are bad. The newest studies show a definite increase in melanoma in those who have used tanning beds. For those who really want a tan, I recommend self tanning creams or spray on tans from the salons. They're all vegetable dyes and completely safe. They wash off slowly, but, of course, offer no protection from the sun.

How often should a person get a skin check up with their dermatologist?
We recommend patients get a skin cancer check annually unless they have a personal history of melanoma, in which case we will see them 2 to 3 times a year. Surprisingly, there are no guidelines as to what age one should start getting a skin cancer check. Pediatricians are wonderful at screening children. We generally start seeing patients in their 30's.

Tell us about your practice:
The Dermatology Center of Stamford has been serving patients in Connecticut and New York for over 40 years. Our four board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Debra Pruzan-Clain, Dr. Stephanie Dietz, Dr. Patricia McAleer and Dr. Severing Chavel, have affiliations with Stamford Hospital and the Yale School of Medicine. We pride ourselves on being medical first but we do a wide variety of cosmetic procedures as well. These include Botox, Juvederm (a filler), laser and chemical peels for brown spots, laser hair removal and leg vein treatment (sclerotherapy). We tend to be quite conservative in our approach. We provide a complete range of dermatologic services for men and women at all stages of life, as well as specialty care for infants, children and adolescents. We treat all skin diseases including eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne. We use the latest techniques in the early recognition and treatment of skin cancer.