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Q&A with Dr. Fatima Fahs, M.D.

Q&A with Dr. Fatima Fahs, M.D.

Welcome to Sun Schooling! We are starting Sun School to educate our Cabana Crew more on safe safety. 

Cabana Life is passionate about sun protection, and to give you the best information, we reached out to experts in the field, our favorite dermatologists!

We are so excited to feature Dr. Fatima Fahs, M.D. She is a fellow Mom & Dermatology Resident. She attended Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester Hills, Michigan and graduated with her MD in 2016. 

You can find her on her Instagram account @dermy_doctor.

What's the number one thing you wish people understood about sun protection? If you could give someone one sun protective tip, what would it be? 

“UV rays are present all day, every day—even on the cloudiest of days! This is why sun protection needs to be a part of your daily routine!”

What's the difference between UPF & SPF? How much UV protection does normal clothing provide? What are the benefits of wearing sun protective clothing? 

“SPF or sun protection factor is a standard used to measure a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB radiation only. This is why making sure that your sunscreen is broad spectrum (UVA and UVB coverage) is important. UPF or ultraviolet protection factor is a standard used to measure a fabric’s ability to protect against both UVA and UVB radiation.  Normal clothing has low UPF factors, usually around 10. Wearing sun protective clothing with a UPF of 50 means that 98% of the sun rays are blocked by the areas of the skin that are covered with this clothing.”

You're going to the pool or beach. What's your personal sun protection routine? 

“Living in Michigan, we spend plenty of summer days at the lake. Our family swim bag is packed with lots of sunscreen because I always find myself sharing some with the people around me who forgot it! But sunscreen isn’t enough. My husband, myself and my kids all wear sun protective swim gear so that I can ensure any of the areas of skin covered by these fabrics are protected while we are having our fun in the sun. I also love packing wide brim hats and sunscreen. More importantly, picking the right spot on the lake with a good amount of shade to sit under is key!”

What should someone look for when picking a sunscreen? Do you have any sunscreens you love and recommend? 

“The best sunscreen is the one that you will wear CONSISTENTLY. It takes trial and error to find a sunscreen that works for you. At minimum, you should look for a sunscreen that is broad spectrum (protects against both UVA & UVB) and has an SPF of 30 or higher. If you’re headed to the beach or for a water activity, make sure you pick a sunscreen that says it is “water resistant” for 40 or 80 minutes. This doesn’t mean the sunscreen is waterPROOF or sweatPROOF, you must still reapply!”


For more dermatologist features, click here.

Dermatologists recommend clothing with sun protection, and Cabana Life offers a variety of dresses, swim, rashguards with UPF 50+