RALEIGH — All summer NCMS is bringing you tips to enjoy the great Carolina outdoors.  Melanoma Mondays run weekly until Autumn with information from your fellow NCMS members.  Today it’s Drs. Kim and Anna Edhegard from Foothills Family Dermatology in Morganton with how to enjoy a day on the boat with beautiful skin.  Enjoy!

Drs. Kim & Anna Edhegard

Have fun and enjoy a day on the boat!

August is kicking off and there is still a lot of summer left!  For many people weekends mean taking to the open water on a boat or jetski.  Drs. Kim and Anna Edhegard have three pieces of advice to keep your skin looking great while you are having fun.

  1.  The suns UV rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm which corresponds to prime boating time.  Check the UV index before committing to a full day out on the water!
  2. Typical sun protection advice still applies:  Use SPF 45 or higher and reapply every two hours.  Sun protective clothing with UPF 50 or greater is also recommended.  Broad-brimmed hats and neck gaiters are a good choice and look great (though taking fashion tips from a dermatologist may be questionable).
  3. If possible choose a boat with built-in sun protection features like a hard top or a T-top.  A Bimini top is another inexpensive and easy-to-install way to get some shade.  And don’t forget your polarized wrap-around sunglasses, which do double duty by also preventing glare from the water.

Drs. Kim and Anna Edhegard are available to talk skin care with you at their practice in Morganton. To contact them click here.