Lovers Lane: Show Some Skin

While you're helping your significant other get slathered up with sunscreen this weekend, throw in a little bonus gift: a skin check.

You see, there's a benefit to being this close. Couples with tight-knit bonds are more likely to carefully check each other's skin for moles, bumps, and other worrisome marks.

I've Got Your Back
Skin self-exams can catch melanoma and other skin cancers early, when treatment has the best shot. And in a study of melanoma survivors, couples in close relationships were about three times more likely to do the skin-check deed. A partner can help with hard-to-see spots, too -- like your back and your scalp. (Find out how much less likely skin checkers are to die of melanoma.)

Extra Skin Safeguards
Along with slathering on sunscreen, try these stay-young skin-savers:

• Get a good product. Check the label for these protective ingredients.
• Choose the right SPF . . . based on your own skin's sun sensitivity.
• Avoid peak sun time. That means 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Get zesty. Zest from lemon, orange, or grapefruit peels protects your skin (here's why). Try some in your tea.

Just how sun savvy are you? Take this RealAge quiz and find out.

Relationship and partner moderator variables increase self-efficacy of performing skin self-examination. Robinson, J. K. et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2008 May;58(5):755-762.