7 Areas You're Forgetting to Apply Sunscreen

7 Areas You're Forgetting to Apply Sunscreen

We all know how important it is to lather up with sunscreen when heading out and about, but there’s a few areas that we tend to neglect. 

Our friend Ash Quinn reminds us of the key areas people tend to forget when applying sunscreen. These areas including the lips, ears, eyes, hands, back of neck, feet and exposed areas of the scalp, can be especially prone to skin cancers and people are always surprised when confronted with their results. Currently two in three Australians will be diagnosed by the time they are in their seventies, so doing everything you can to stay safe in the sun is important as ever. Let's take a closer look at these common areas below.
   
 
Lips
 
Unlike our skin, lips don't have any sebaceous glands to keep them moisturised, or any melanin. Melanin is our body's natural way of protecting our skin from UV rays and without it, they're at a higher risk of burning. So don't forget your lips when you apply your daily sunscreen, and remember to reapply after sweating or swimming (especially after eating).
 

Ears

Because our ears tend to stick out a little, they can be exposed to more sun than other areas of the body. Sunscreen needs to be applied all over the ear, including behind the ear and right up to the ear canal. As with the lips, this can be a nasty spot for a cancer to form as they are often very hard to treat.

Eyes

Skin cancer of the eye is typically more common on the eyelids and in the corners of the eyes, however, it is important to always check the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) as well. To better protect your eyes, be sure to apply sunscreen on your face, and always wear sunglasses and a hat where possible.

Hands

Our hands are continually exposed to UV rays throughout the day, especially when driving, working, riding etc. We tend to use our hands consistently throughout the day, so sunscreen is often rubbed or washed off. Make sure you reapply regularly and always remember to cover any exposed areas when driving.

Back of the neck

Remember to put sunscreen on any part of the neck not protected by your shirt, or rashy if you're in the water. Every time you apply sunscreen to your face and ears, be sure to apply to your neck too. The back of the neck is particularly common for skin cancer in men who wear caps. Unfortunately, popular baseball style caps are next to useless in protecting the face, neck and ears. Get serious and shout yourself to a broad brim hat!

Feet

The feet are often neglected when applying sunscreen. They're an incredibly common area for sunburn as they are exposed to UV rays more often than we think. Wearing sandals? Apply sunscreen.

Scalp

For people without much hair this is usually pretty obvious, but you may be surprised to hear that the scalp is a common area as well, especially in women. Women tend not to wear hats (or caps) as much as men, which exposes the area of the scalp where your hair naturally parts (vertex) and can acquire damage without you even knowing. 

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To sum it up, it’s incredibly important to apply sunscreen on all exposed skin areas (20 minutes prior to going outside if possible), cover up with clothing when you can, wear a hat & sunnies and don’t forget to reapply. Shop our full range of Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen.

*Use sunscreen liberally and reapply according to product directions. Avoid prolonged exposure.⁠ Sunscreen is only one component of sun protection, it is important to wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, hats and protective eyewear when exposed to the sun.⁠

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