"Here’s Why You Should Put Sunscreen On Your Eyelids" - Sheila Dougherty
We’ve long been advised to use sunblock daily on our faces and to take care of any other skin that’s exposed to the sun for any length of time. But few of us think of how the sun affects our eyes and the skin that protects them. Eyelid skin cancer is much more common than most people think. “The eyelids are at risk for cancer because unlike other parts of the boy, the face is usually uncovered and exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Many people do not apply sunblock to the eyelid skin out of concern that it will get into their eyes,” said Harsha Reddy, MD, an ophthalmic plastic surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. “Sun protection, including UV-filtering sunglasses, sunblock, and wide-brimmed hats are the best prevention against the most common types of skin cancers.” It is important to use sun protections even on partly cloudy days because there is still UV radiation that can damage the eyelids, Dr. Reddy advised.
- Harsha Reddy, MD, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai