Summer is here, and that means you're probably spending a lot more time outside gardening and grilling. Along with homemade ice cream and fresh watermelon, sunscreen should be a staple—not only for summer, but year-round, too!
You might think, I don't want to add another thing to my to-do list, but wearing sunscreen every day to protect against UV rays is a must. Even on overcast days, the sun's rays can penetrate the clouds.
Actor John Cena is the global face of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF after a skin cancer diagnosis, and he has a genius bathroom organizing tip that will help you remember your daily skin safety.
Photo: Courtesy of Neutrogena
Organize Your Bathroom to Make Sunscreen a Daily Habit
Cena is open about the fact that he never thought he'd develop skin cancer, but when he got the call from the doctor with the diagnosis, he knew that he needed to up his sun protection game. "It was a very serious realization that my lack of sun protection had caught up with me," he says.
"A big misconception is that you only need sunscreen on beach days," Cena says. "Especially in a sunny place like Florida where I live, those UV rays come in through the car window. So I wear it every day."
What helps to make wearing SPF a daily ritual? "You brush your teeth every day. Applying sunscreen doesn't add that much in minutes," Cena says. "Put the sunscreen right next to your toothpaste so you don't forget."
Pack a Bag to Reapply Throughout the Day
“Reapplication is the biggest message we need to get out there,” says Whitney Hovenic, M.D., a dermatologist based in Reno, NV. In fact, Neutrogena's survey found that only half of regular SPF users reapply as recommended. “No sunscreen is good for more than two hours, especially if you’re sweating or swimming.” And because people typically don't use enough sunscreen to begin with, remembering to reapply is even more important. Set a timer on your phone for two hours so you won’t forget.
"I carry what I call a doc bag," Cena says. "It's a shoulder bag with all the stuff I use daily and sunscreen is in there right next to cologne and a book I enjoy reading," says Cena. "So I always have sunscreen with me ready to reapply."
And don't forget those hard-to-miss places: Ears, lips, backs of legs, feet, around straps are often missed. But these need coverage too. "I wear shorts so I have to remind myself hey, the backs of my calves need sunscreen too," Cena says. For the smaller spots like ears and around straps, SPF in stick form can be ideal, especially since sticks are easy to toss in your tote and don't leave residue on your hands.
Organize Your Calendar to Include Annual Skin Checks
See a dermatologist once a year for a skin check; you'll likely need to go more frequently if you have risk factors, including a family history of skin cancer, used tanning beds or have had a history of sunburns, especially blistering ones. And keep an eye on your skin: If you notice any new, changing or unusual spots, get checked.
"This is what saved my life," says Cena. "Living in Florida I thought I should have my skin checked. "My first few checkups were good, but then I got that call that I had to come back because the spots that had been removed were cancerous," says Cena. "I was very lucky that cancer hadn't spread beyond the spots."
Cena's big statement: "Without sun protection the math is not in your favor. To go about your daily life without SPF you cannot say It won't happen to me. Use SPF as part of your daily routine and keep the math in your favor."