The eyelids are the thinnest skin on the human body, less than 1 millimeter thick.
Due to this, the eyelids are particularly vulnerable to UV rays from the sun. Five to 10 percent of reported cases of skin cancer occurs on eyelids.
According to a study published on April 3, 2019, in PLOS One, it showed that the eyelids are often forgotten when one applies sunscreen.
The study consisted of British researchers who gave 84 participants in the study a bottle of moisturizer containing SPF. The researchers looked with a UV camera to see what areas the participants missed on their face.
The researchers found that consistently, the participants 20 percent of the time missed their eyelids.
When the researchers gave the participants a sunscreen instead of a moisturizer, the participants missed the eyelids 14 percent of the time.
Austin McCormick, one of the study’s authors said that people apply cream thinking they are protected from the sun, yet they leave the eyelids unprotected which could lead to cancer.
Dermatologists say areas which are prone to cancer are often forgotten. Joshua Zeichner from Mount Sinai Hospital who is a researcher and dermatologist says he sees his patients regularly forgetting to put sunscreen on their ears, side on their neck, and ears. These areas can also be prone to cancer.
Written by Barbara Sobel
Sources:
Today: How to apply sunscreen: Don’t skip eyelids, an area vulnerable to skin cancer
NPR: You Missed A Spot! Patchy Sunscreen Application Leaves Skin Vulnerable To Cancer
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of A. Starkey’s Flickr – Creative Commons License
