BAD ADVICE
YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR SUNSCREEN UNDER A T-SHIRT.
Dermatologists see right through this common misconception, says Mona Gohara, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University Everyday tees aren't made of fabric with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), so they allow about 20% of UV rays to get to your skin. If you regularly spend time outside, "that's more than enough exposure to cause trouble," says Dr. Gohara. The skin underneath is still susceptible to sunburn, wrinkling, and skin cancer.
SMART STRATEGY
When you're planning to have fun in the sun, wear clothing (tops, bottoms, hats) with a built-in UPF of 50 or higher; the Skin Cancer Foundation considers this one of the most effective methods of UV protection. But slathering sunscreen on areas that are left exposed is still a must. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours, says Dr. Gohara. Don't forget easy-to-skip regions like your lips and eyelids plus the tops of your ears and feet.
BAD ADVICE
GO AHEAD AND CLEAN YOUR EARS WITH COTTON SWABS-JUST DON'T DIG.
Cotton swabs are great for just about everything except what we all think they're supposed to do: clean out earwax. "It actually says on the package that these should not be used in the ears," says Hamid Djalilian, M.D., a professor of clinical otolaryngology at the University of California, Irvine. Twisting one around in your ear might feel good, but it's a big no-no for a few reasons. You may injure the fragile ear canal skin or the eardrum or push wax in deeper, leading to temporary hearing loss as it accumulates in the canal. Besides, our ears need a little wax to help prevent bacteria, water, and other particles from finding their way in.
SMART STRATEGY
This story is from the June 2022 edition of Prevention.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2022 edition of Prevention.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 Myths About Cancer
The "C" word is scary enough without misinformation making things worse. Here are a few "I've heards" that you don't need to listen to anymore.
EAT FOR STRONG BONES
The right mix of nutrients helps support a sturdy skeleton.
THE DOCTOR IS IN When UTIS Keep Coming Back
Recurrent UTIs hit women more often than men— here’s what does and doesn’t work to prevent them.
Why Did I Feel as if I Had the Flu for Years?
Some days she just couldn’t get out of bed. It took some 10 doctors to figure out why.
Make Your Everyday Life Easier
Light weights are your ticket to a stronger core, which you need to lift, balance, and move with confidence.
WHAT'S YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE?
LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF TO CONNECT MORE WITH OTHERS.
Stretch Away BACK PAIN
STRETCHING IS A POWERFUL PAINKILLER. All your muscles, bones, and tendons are connected, so pain mama in one body part can affect another. With stretching, you can loosen multiple areas at once. Try these backcentric moves from Prevention’s Stretch Away Pain.
Your Over-the-Counter PAIN DRUG GUIDE
IF NON-PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS like ice and heat aren't helping enough, there are over-the-counter meds that can bring relief, but they're not interchangeable.
"Oh, my ACHING..."
JUST GOING ABOUT OUR LIVES can bring on pain in three areas of the body in particular: the back, the neck, and the knees.
Hope for CHRONIC PAIN sufferers
AN ACHY BACK AFTER A NIGHT ON A SOFA BED is one thing, but some pain persists long after you're technically healed.