Dr. Andrea Suarez, known as Dr. Dray on TikTok, shared five skincare tips ahead of Memorial Day to help people take care of their skin during the summer. She advised against boozing in the sun, using sunscreen with poor protection, buying sunscreen with insect repellent, peeling sunburn, and burning ticks off the skin. She emphasized the importance of protecting the skin from the damaging effects of the sun to prevent premature aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancers.
Suarez explained that alcohol consumption depletes the skin’s antioxidant reservoirs, making it less equipped to handle the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun. She also pointed out that drunk individuals are more likely to get sunburned because they may not realize they are being exposed to harmful UV rays. To prevent skin damage while day drinking in the sun, Suarez recommended wearing a hat and sunscreen.
In terms of sunscreen usage, Suarez warned against using products with poor protection, such as those with an SPF of 6. She cited the American Academy of Dermatology recommendation of using sunscreen with at least SPF 30, which blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays. Additionally, she advised reapplying sunscreen every two hours or after sweating, being in the water, or toweling off. Water-resistant sunscreen should be reapplied every 40 to 80 minutes to ensure effective protection from the sun.
Suarez also cautioned against purchasing sunscreen with insect repellent, as insect repellent does not need to be reapplied as frequently as sunscreen. She recommended using insect repellent and sunscreen in separate products to ensure adequate protection from both sun damage and insect bites. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center suggested that bug spray should not need to be applied more than once a day to prevent insect bites.
When it comes to sunburn, Suarez advised against peeling the skin as it can increase the risk of infection, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. She recommended staying out of the sun if you have sunburn and taking measures to relieve sunburn pain, such as taking a quick, cool shower or bath, using a moisturizer with aloe vera or soy, and staying hydrated by drinking extra water. Yale Medicine also offered tips for managing sunburn pain and promoting skin healing.
Lastly, as tick season approaches, Suarez warned against burning ticks off the skin, as it is an old wives’ tale that can damage the skin. Instead, she advised using tweezers or forceps to grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and gently pulling it upward. After removing the tick, it should be placed in rubbing alcohol. This method helps prevent skin damage and effectively removes ticks without the need for burning or other harmful techniques.
