As we discussed back in July, one of the best ways to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun — i.e., premature signs of aging and skin cancer — is to wear sunscreen religiously on nearly every part of your body.
At Eyesthetica, an oculoplastic and cosmetic surgery group in Los Angeles, we are especially concerned about sun damage and skin cancer on your face. We encourage everyone to be diligent about applying sunscreen to the face, which is the area of the body most likely to develop skin cancer.
That’s why we are concerned about a recent study that found most people miss about 10 percent of their face when applying sunscreen. The eyelids are one of the most vulnerable areas — as much as 10 percent of skin cancers occur on the lids. Many of these cases could be prevented with proper protection.
The Eyelids Are Commonly Missed During Sunscreen Application
The University of Liverpool enlisted a team of nearly 60 people to apply sunscreen to their faces. Photos were taken with a special UV-sensitive light to identify the areas of the face that had been covered in sunscreen.
The team found that study participants missed 9.5 percent of the face, including the eyelids, the inner corner of the eye and the bridge of the nose. It makes sense to assume that people miss the eyelids because they don’t want to get sunscreen in their eyes; however, the eyelids are still at risk if left unprotected.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, five to 10 percent of all skin cancers develop on the eyelids. The most common types of cancer to affect the eyelid region are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Protect Your Eyelids from Skin Cancer
Our team encourages you to take the following steps to protect your eyelids from sun damage and skin cancer:
- Cover your entire face, including your eyelids, the inner corners of the eye and the bridge of the nose, with sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. A sunscreen stick is a great option to target the eyelids without the product dripping into the eyes.
- Wear sunglasses that guard against UVA and UVB rays (check the label).
- Stay out of the sun during the hours of 11 a.m., and 3 p.m., when the sun is strongest.
Learn More about the Prevention and Treatment of Skin Cancer
For more information about the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, the team at Eyesthetica invites you to contact our practice today.