WHY​ ​COOLER​ ​WEATHER​ ​CAN ACTUALLY​ ​MAKE ​THE SUN​ ​MORE​ ​DANGEROUS.

I'm​ ​an​ ​Illinois​ ​girl.​ ​I​ ​know​ ​what​ ​heat​ is.​ ​Hot,​ ​muggy,​ ​sweltering​ ​heat.​ ​You​ ​know​ ​what​ ​I’m​ ​talking about?​ ​The​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​heat​ ​that​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​many​ ​clothes​ ​you​ ​take​ ​off,​ ​you​ ​just​ ​can't​ ​get​ ​cool.

Maybe​ ​that’s​ ​why​ ​I​ ​moved​ ​to​ Summit County, ​Colorado.​ ​It​ ​rarely​ ​gets​ ​REAL​ ​hot​ ​here​ ​and​ ​if​ ​it​ ​does,​ ​the​ ​evenings are​ ​cool​ ​and​ ​breezy.​ ​Man,​ ​I​ ​love​ ​living here.

Being the​​ ​“Derm​ ​Nerd”​ ​(that’s what ​my​ patients, ​friends​ ​and​ ​family​ ​call​ ​me) I am,​ ​I​ ​get​ ​absolutely​ ​nerdy​ ​when​ ​it comes​ ​to​ ​protecting​ ​people's skin​ ​health.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​worked​ ​in​ ​multiple Dermatology offices and major​ ​ER’s​ ​and​ ​I​ ​have​ ​seen​ ​pretty​ ​much everything​ ​there​ ​is​ ​to​ ​see​ ​in​ ​what​ ​people​ ​do​ ​to​ ​their​ ​bodies.​ ​I can describe it in one word: Yikes.

Because​ ​of​ ​this,​ ​opening​ ​Renew​ ​Dermatology​ ​was​ ​just​ ​the​ ​next​ ​natural​ ​step​ ​in​ ​helping​ ​people protect​ ​their​ ​health,​ ​especially​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​their​ ​skin.​ ​You​ ​know,​ ​your​ ​skin…​​the​ ​largest organ​ ​in​ ​your​ ​body.​ ​That​ ​skin​ ​stuff​ ​is​ ​what​ ​people​ ​see​ ​when​ ​you​ ​walk​ ​out​ ​of​ ​your​ ​house,​ ​kind​ ​of like​ ​the​ ​paint​ ​job​ ​on​ ​your​ ​car.​ ​You​ ​want​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​it​ ​in​ ​top​ ​condition,​ ​not​ ​get​ ​all​ ​rusty​ ​and​ ​crusty, right?

WHY​ ​COOLER​ ​WEATHER​ ​CAN​ ​BE​ ​DANGEROUS

As​ ​we​ ​start​ ​to​ ​transition​ ​from​ ​Summer​ ​to​ ​Fall,​ ​specifically​ ​if​ ​you​ ​travel​ ​here​ ​to​ ​the​ ​high​ ​country from​ ​lower​ ​areas​ ​where​ ​it​ ​may​ ​still​ ​be​ ​warm,​ ​it becomes​ ​a​ ​HUGGGGE​ ​problem​ when ​folks​ forget​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​their​ ​skin or think that it is not necessary to wear sunscreen because it’s cloudy outside.

Call​ ​it​ ​the​ ​sweater​ ​effect.​ ​You​ ​come​ ​here​ ​and​ ​the​ ​air​ ​temperature​ ​is​ ​naturally​ ​20​ ​to​ ​30 degrees​ ​cooler,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​grab​ ​your​ ​hoodie​ ​or​ ​sweater​ ​and​ ​cover​ ​up.​ ​Mmmmmm,​ ​feels​ ​so​ ​good​.​ ​In​ ​fact​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​feels​ ​soooo​ ​good.​ ​THIS​ ​IS​ ​DANGEROUS.

As​ ​it​ ​warms​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​afternoon,​ ​you ​might​ ​even​ ​pull​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​layers​ ​off,​ ​exposing​ ​even​ ​more of​ ​your​ ​precious​ ​skin.​ ​Here​ ​is​ ​why​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​careful: ​UV​ ​or​ ​ultraviolet​ ​rays are damaging your skin, no matter what the weather or temperature is.

UV​ ​IS​ ​UV,​ ​NO​ ​MATTER​ ​WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE

Hey,​ ​I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​sun.​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​it​ ​does​ ​make​ ​our​ ​planet​ ​inhabitable.​ ​I​ ​use​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​things​ ​in​ ​a garden,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​really​ ​appreciate​ ​that​ ​I ​don't​ ​have​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​flashlight​ ​24​ ​hours​ ​a​ ​day.​ ​So​ ​yes,​ ​you can​ ​say​ ​I’m​ ​a​ ​fan.

BUT,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​BIG​ ​BUT.​ ​The​ ​sun​ ​has​ ​nasty​ ​side​ ​effects on your skin from ​UV.​ ​You​ ​might​ ​have​ ​even heard​ ​of​ ​the​ ​UV​ ​index,​ ​​https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-scale-1

Okay,​ ​hang​ ​on​ ​while​ ​I​ ​get​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​geeky​ ​here.​ ​ Ultraviolet​ ​(UV)​ ​radiation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​form​ ​of​ ​electromagnetic​ ​radiation.​ ​The​ ​main​ ​source​ ​of UV​ ​radiation​ ​(rays)​ ​is​ ​the​ ​sun,​ ​although​ ​it​ ​can​ ​also​ ​come​ ​from​ ​man-made​ ​sources such​ ​as​ ​tanning​ ​beds, sun lamps​ ​and​ ​welding​ ​torches. And it adds up cumulatively throughout your lifetime which determines how much your skin is damaged.

This​ ​is​ ​why​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​let​ ​the​ ​air​ ​temperature or cloud cover​ ​determine​ ​how​ ​much​ ​you​ ​protect​ ​your skin (more about this below).​ ​Just look at​ ​explorers​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sub​ ​zero​ ​climate​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Antarctic. Even​ ​those adventurous​ ​souls​ ​have​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​their​ ​skin (from UV and frostbite)!

HOW​ ​TO​ ​PAY​ ​ATTENTION​ ​TO​ ​UV​ ​AND​ ​ITS​ ​SOURCES

According​ ​to​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Cancer​ ​Society​ ​website,​ ​here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​tips​ ​about​ ​the​ ​sun.

The​ ​strength​ ​of​ ​the​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​reaching​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​depends​ ​on​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​factors, such​ ​as:

● Time​ ​of​ ​day:​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​are​ ​strongest​ ​between​ ​10​ ​am​ ​and​ ​4​ ​pm.

● Season​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year:​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​are​ ​stronger​ ​during​ ​spring​ ​and​ ​summer​ ​months. This​ ​is​ ​less​ ​of​ ​a​ ​factor​ ​near​ ​the​ ​equator.

● Distance​ ​from​ ​the​ ​equator​ ​(latitude):​ ​UV​ ​exposure​ ​goes​ ​down​ ​as​ ​you​ ​get further​ ​from​ ​the​ ​equator.

● Altitude:​ ​More​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​reach​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​at​ ​higher​ ​elevations (a thinner atmosphere filters less UV radiation leading to a 10-12% increase in UV at high altitude)

● Cloud​ ​cover:​ ​The​ ​effect​ ​of​ ​clouds​ ​can​ ​vary.​ ​Sometimes​ ​cloud​ ​cover​ ​blocks some​ ​UV​ ​from​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​and​ ​lowers​ ​UV​ ​exposure,​ ​while​ ​other ​types​ ​of​ ​clouds can​ ​reflect​ ​UV​ ​and ​increases​ ​UV​ ​exposure.​ ​What​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​know​ ​is that​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​can​ ​get​ ​through,​ ​even​ ​on​ ​a​ ​cloudy​ ​day.

● Reflection​ ​off​ ​surfaces:​ ​UV​ ​rays​ ​can​ ​bounce​ ​off​ ​surfaces​ ​like​ ​water,​ ​sand, snow,​ ​pavement,​ ​or​ ​grass,​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​an​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​UV​ ​exposure.

***Also important to note: The​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​UV​ ​exposure​ ​a​ ​person​ ​gets​ ​depends​ ​on​ ​the​ ​strength​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rays,​ ​the length​ ​of​ ​time​ ​the​ ​skin​ ​is​ ​exposed,​ ​and​ ​whether​ ​the​ ​skin​ ​is​ ​protected​ ​with​ ​clothing​ ​or sunscreen.

Source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/skin-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/what-is-u v-radiation.html

THIS​ ​BLOG​ ​POST​ ​IS​ ​NOT​ ​MEANT​ ​TO​ ​BE​ ​FEAR​ ​MONGERING,​ ​BUT…

There​ ​is​ ​nothing​ ​more​ ​irritating​ ​than​ ​reading​ ​news​ ​or​ ​blog​ ​posts​ ​that​ ​are​ ​all​ ​about “The​ ​Sky​ ​is​ ​Falling… ​The​ ​Sky​ ​Is​ ​Falling.”​ ​Balance​ ​and some common sense are​ ​needed​ ​here.​ ​I​ ​want​ ​people​ ​to enjoy​ ​life,​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​great​ ​outdoors,​ and ​enjoy​ ​an​ ​active​ ​lifestyle. Safely.​ ​I​ ​moved​ ​to​ ​Summit County​ ​because​ ​of​ ​all​ ​the beauty, adventure, and outdoor “madness and mayhem” it​ ​offers. Can I get a hoo-rah?

Now, this​ ​doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​staying​ ​inside​ ​or​ ​covering​ ​up​ ​like​ ​a​ ​mummy.​ ​No​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a vampire​ ​here,​ ​ok? ​So​ ​what​ ​is​ ​one​ ​to​ ​do?

Protecting​ ​your​ ​skin​ ​and​ ​your​ ​health​ ​means​ ​being​ ​educated​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​preemptive measures.​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​my​ ​top​ ​3​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​the​ ​skin you’re in:

1. Cover​ ​up​ ​with​ ​a​ wide-brimmed ​hat and​ ​sunglasses at all times

2. Use SPF​ ​Sunscreen​ ​50 or above in high altitude on any exposed area

3. And this is the one most people forget…. REAPPLY sunscreen as often as directed on the bottle. I personally set an alarm on my phone to remind me when it’s time to reapply.

FINAL​ ​WORDS​ ​HERE

As​ ​a​ licensed dermatology provider and your favorite “​Derm​ ​Nerd”,​ ​my​ ​job​ ​is​ ​not​ ​to be​ ​your​ ​“Mommy”​ ​or​ the ​nag you are always trying to avoid.​ ​I’m​ ​here​ ​for you.​ ​People​ ​are​ ​spending​ ​billions​ ​of​ ​dollars​ ​a​ ​year​ ​to become​ ​more youthful in appearance​ ​and​ ​keep Father​ ​Time​ ​from​ ​stealing our sexiness.

Count​ ​me​ ​in​ ​on​ ​helping​ ​you​ ​do​ ​just​ ​that.​ ​Radiant and ​vibrant​ ​looking​ ​skin​ ​comes​ first ​from protecting​ ​it, and second from investing in maintaining it.​ ​Remember​ ​the​ ​car​ ​analogy​ ​earlier​ ​in​ ​the​ ​blog​ ​post?​ ​Just​ ​like​ ​the​ ​paint job​ ​on​ ​your​ ​car: ​you​ ​keep​ ​it​ ​out​ ​of​ ​hail​ ​storms,​ ​you​ ​wash​ ​it​ ​regularly,​ ​even​ ​apply​ ​a little wax​ ​to​ ​it every now and then.​ ​You​ ​probably​ ​even​ ​park​ ​it​ ​in​ ​a​ ​garage regularly.​ ​Why? Because​ ​you​ ​want​ to protect ​your​ ​investment​ and keep it ​looking​ ​as phenomenal as possible​ ​while​ ​you​ ​own​ ​it.

Just like your expensive paint job on your car, you need to protect your skin even more diligently.

Reality check:​ ​ Unlike​ ​your​ ​car,​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​trade​ ​your​ ​skin​ ​in​ ​every​ ​5​ ​years for a newer model.​ ​But​ ​you​ ​can Renew​ ​it.​ ​Get​ ​it?​ ​Renew?​ ​Yes​ ​this​ ​is​ ​why​ ​I​ ​started​ ​Renew​ ​Dermatology,​ ​to​ ​help​ ​you not​ ​only​ ​protect​ ​your​ ​skin,​ ​but​ ​provide​ ​services​ ​and​ ​solutions​ ​to​ ​reverse​ ​the​ ​natural damage​ ​that​ ​occurs​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​environments​ ​we​ ​all​ ​work,​ ​play​ ​and​ ​live​ ​in.

Bottom​ ​line: ​Please​ ​come​ ​up​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​cooler​ ​mountain​ ​conditions,​ ​the changing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​trees,​ ​the​ ​refreshing​ ​mountain​ ​air.​ ​But​ ​do​ ​not​ ​forget​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​up​ ​and protect​ ​that​ ​precious skin​ ​of​ ​yours.

I​ ​hope​ ​you​ ​found​ ​this​ ​information​ ​useful,​ ​and​ that you will ​reach​ ​out on ​my​ ​website​ ​at​ ​​www.RenewDermatology.com​​ ​or​ ​hit​ ​me​ ​up​ ​on Facebook​ ​or​ ​Linkedin.

Spoiler Alert!!! Look​ ​for​ ​a​ ​new​ ​Derm​ ​Nerd​ ​Blog​ ​every​ ​week.​ ​Please​ ​sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​my​ ​updates​ on the website ​and​ ​I’ll send​ ​you​ ​my​ ​new​ ​blog​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​out.

Contact me: info@renewdermatology.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/renewdermatology

Call Locally: 970.409.4000 Toll Free: 844-4-RENEWME

READ OUR RENEW DISCLAIMER HERE