Time to update skin care routine to include sunscreen, doctor advises

With warmer, sunnier weather on its way, one dermatologist is recommending people update their skin care routines to avoid a painful sunburn — or worse.

Dr. Sunil Kalia, with the UBC Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, says sun protection is extremely important.

"We know that skin cancer is on the rise and we also want to prevent sun burns and aging of the skin," he said.

He says protecting your body from the sun is a whole package deal.

"You avoid sun exposure in peak hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Avoid going into sunny places, so try and seek shade as well. Wear protective clothing," he said.

"Then it comes down to your sunscreen."

Kalia says it's important to use an SPF greater than 50 — especially on days when you're going to go out in the sun and the UV index is high.

There are three kinds of ultraviolet light emitted by the sun — UVA, UVB, and UVC light — that can produce different effects on the skin, Kalia explained.

UVC light is highly cancerous but is usually filtered out by the atmosphere. UVB light is responsible for causing sun burns, and UVA light is responsible for tanning, he said.

"SPF, it provides a level of UVB protection, but we also get a lot of UVA penetrating," he said.

Kalia recommends finding a sunscreen to protect against UVA as well.

A 'shot glass' of sunscreen

How you apply the sunscreen is almost as important as choosing the correct sunscreen, Kalia said.

Sunscreen should be applied prior to attaining that sun exposure and reapplying every two hours is important, he said, adding that most people under-apply.

"A whole shot glass of sunscreen every two hours ... That's a lot of sunscreen."

Listen to the full interview with Dr. Sunil Kalia on CBC's The Early Edition: