When and if summer sun arrives, here are tips for finding the sunscreen sweet spot




Katrina Pfannenstiel

Katrina Pfannenstiel

EUREKA – Summer is almost here, and with the long, cold winter we’ve experienced on the North Coast, people are ready to head to the ocean, rivers, and lakes in Humboldt County and beyond seeking the warmth of the sun.

Stores are stocked with sunscreens of all shapes and sizes. Sprays, lotions, and creams — there has never been more ways to safeguard your skin. But with so many options on the market, what is your best line of defense?

That question and others are a focus for many consumers and dermatologists this month as we approach the latter part of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

According to Katrina Pfannenstiel, a Providence Medical Group physician assistant specializing in dermatology, plastic and reconstructive surgery in Eureka, when talking with her patients, she helps them identify potential misconceptions on the appropriate use of sunscreen.

“Not reapplying every two hours is one of the most common mistakes,” says Pfannenstiel, a Humboldt County native. “On the North Coast, we have a lot of professions that are based outdoors like fishing, logging, forestry – and for these people, they are at high risk for sun damage. Proper application of sunscreen is very important.”

A question typically heard in Pfannenstiel’s office is what SPF (sun protection factor) she recommends. “I tell folks to use a SPF between 30 and 50, which blocks about 97 to 98 percent of harmful sun rays.”

“You’re never going to get to 100 percent protection with sunscreen alone. SPF 30 is a sweet spot where you’re not paying a lot more money for a fraction of a percentage of more protection,” she says.

In addition to making sure her patients appropriately apply sunscreen that has enough SPF, Pfannenstiel says she also tells patients to be especially vigilant about keeping a close eye on areas of their body that may have had sun damage in the past.

“When they come into the office, we do a complete skin check. We look for sunspots, wrinkling, pigmented spots, change in size of color or shape of moles,” said Pfannenstiel. “Any areas of concern we find, we immediately address in the office the same day. We do lots of mole removals in the clinic.”

Unfortunately, a significant number of patients who have not practiced good sun protection habits end up coming into her office with advanced stages of skin cancer.

Pfannenstiel attributes some of that to access to care issues due to our remote and rural community, but also to the fact people generally take their health for granted.

“People seek care later here. When they do come in, I encourage them to be intentional in checking their moles so we can address any concerns immediately.”

Pfannenstiel and other dermatology providers recommend checking your skin monthly for any changes.

Make an appointment if you notice any of the following changes to your skin: a new growth, sore that doesn’t heal, or a mole that is asymmetrical, has an irregular border, an uneven color, large size (bigger than a pea) or a mole that is evolving.