Many Canadians spend the colder months dreaming about summer. For those of us who live in the sunny Okanagan, summer days are long and we love spending them outdoors and at the lake. Often with that comes an inherent desire to start the season off tanned with a ‘healthy glow’.  Ironically, that ‘healthy glow’ actually indicates sun damage and it has skin cancer experts—us included—worried. Any sign of a tan means your skin has already suffered damage. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a single blistering sunburn can nearly double one’s lifetime risk of melanoma, the most deadly for ..read more

It’s well known that UV radiation can damage our skin, especially cumulative damage over time. This damage can appear in the form of sun burns, inflammation, premature aging and skin cancers. Thankfully, there are measures that we can take to protect our skin, like avoiding sun exposure, wearing sun protective clothing and slathering on sunscreen.  Recently, oral supplements have gained popularity as another protective factor. Niacinamide is often recommended by skin care physicians, especially for individuals who’ve already had skin cancer or are at a high risk. But what is Niacinamide ..read more

Sunscreen has been around for many years, but there’s still a lot of confusion around who should wear sunscreen and which type is best. With people becoming more conscious about what they put on their skin, more attention is being drawn to the chemicals in sunscreen products.  It’s common to think that the choice is between chemical and organic. But that’s not always the case. Chemical sunscreens can be organic, and are a great option for many individuals. Chemical, organic, mineral, powder, liquid…you’ve got a lot of choices. As experts in sun care, we’re here to help.  In this blog ..read more

With early detection, skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers we face. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the estimated five-year survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early is around 99 percent.  Following treatment, patients in remission must take extra care to protect their skin from new sun damage. People who have had skin cancer are at greater risk for developing another skin cancer, so how do you make sure you’re protected?  At Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic, that’s exactly our goal.  In this blog post, we’ll go over the best ways to protect ..read more

It’s easy to turn our thoughts to a warm-weather vacation when the temperatures start to drop. With travel having been on the back burner for the last two years, many of us have big plans to head to sunnier destinations.  If you’re packing your bags for a holiday this winter, make sure that you don’t forget your sun protection! In this article, we’ll cover why it’s important and what sun protection methods are the most effective. Vitamin D & warm-weather appeal. Sunshine is important. In the body, energy from the sun (UVB radiation) converts vitamin D precursors to act ..read more

Preventing Skin Aging with Face & Neck Sun Protection Many of us have spent countless hours scouring the internet for the most effective, best-reviewed anti-aging products—and our bank accounts have felt the price. Ironically, the ultimate hassle-free, cheap, all-natural solution for radiant skin often slips our minds: hats!  We’re here to change your minds about this underrated garment. In this day and age, there’s no shortage of stylish hats and face coverings on the market. There are even specialized options for UV-protection, such as the UVwise sun hat collection.  In th ..read more

Discussing and exchanging knowledge is a great thing. In our modern society, we have so many ways of obtaining and sharing information. However, this is also the easiest way for misinformation to spread. This includes information about sun protection. There are many ways to protect our body, especially our skin, from the harmful UV rays of the sun. But, is what you’re doing sufficient, and is it even correct? We’re here to help! Here we debunk 6 of the most common sun protection misconceptions, helping you to protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer. 6 Common Sun Prote ..read more

We typically associate our relationship to the sun with recreational activities. When we think of time spent in the sun, we often reflect on beautiful vacations on the beach with our families. Or perhaps the time spent out on the lake casting a lure into a lake hoping the fish are biting that day. In each case, we understand the importance of making sure we’ve applied SPF lotions, wearing protective UV clothing, and wide-brimmed hats. We do not want to let a lack of precaution end up ruining what could be a wonderful memory of fun in the sun. But what about the 33% of our lives spent work ..read more

The harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays have been well established in many studies. UV exposure leads to skin aging and is the leading cause of skin cancer. In order to prevent sun damage now and in the future, sun protection is necessary.  In this article, we’ll cover the harmful effects of UV rays and the different types of UV radiation. We’ll look at the ways to protect your skin from UV damage and where SPF fits in. We’ll take a brief look at how sunscreen works, how much you need and if it’s enough (spoiler: it’s usually not).  One of the preferred methods of prot ..read more

When you consider certain places that could cause the most damage due to sun exposure, which places pop into your mind first? If you think tropical beaches and regions with a warmer climate are the ones that pose the maximum risk, you are not alone. That said, you will likely to be surprised by what you will read further. Our exposure to skin-damaging UV rays is higher on mountains than on tropical beaches. This may sound strange, but the reason behind it is simple – UV radiation from the sun increases with elevation. The atmosphere’s invisible ozone layer acts as a shield against the harmful ..read more