The Spots Everyone Misses: Ears, Scalp, Lips, and Tops of the Feet
The places you forget to cover — ear tops, the part in your hair, your lips, the backs of your hands — are exactly where skin cancers like to start.
Frequently overlooked but heavily sun-exposed areas — ears, the scalp and part line, lips, the back of the neck, hands, and the tops of the feet — are common sites for squamous and basal cell carcinomas. The American Cancer Society advises covering all exposed skin and using an SPF lip balm to protect the lips, which sunscreen often misses.
The American Cancer Society advises covering all exposed skin and protecting easily forgotten areas, recommending an SPF lip balm for the lips and noting that hats, clothing, and sunglasses help shield spots that sunscreen tends to miss.
Questions we get a lot
Which spots do people miss most when applying sunscreen?
Commonly skipped areas include the ears, the scalp and part line, the lips, the back of the neck, the hands, and the tops of the feet. These are heavily sun-exposed and are common sites for basal and squamous cell skin cancers. The American Cancer Society advises covering all exposed skin so these gaps don't get left out.
Do I need to put sunscreen on my lips?
Your lips need protection too, but ordinary sunscreen is awkward to keep there. The American Cancer Society recommends using an SPF lip balm to shield them. Reapply it as you would sunscreen, especially after eating, drinking, or being in water.
How do I protect my scalp and ears from the sun?
A wide-brimmed hat is the simplest way to cover the scalp, ears, and the back of the neck at once. The American Cancer Society recommends combining clothing, hats, and sunglasses with sunscreen to cover exposed skin. On a bare scalp or exposed part line, apply sunscreen there too or keep it covered.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'I'm religious about my face SPF but I think I've literally never put sunscreen on my ears or the part in my hair — is that a real problem?'