Mohs Scar Treatment 3 Weeks Post Op- When Do I Know I've Healed Enough to Use Sunscreen?

One of my top recommendations to patients who have undergone Mohs surgery for skin cancer is to make sure they apply sunscreen everyday. Regardless of whether you're planning on spending the day outside, or simply walking from your front porch to the car, wearing sunscreen is one of the absolute best preventative measures you can do. I often recommend people start putting sunscreen on all exposed areas (usually face, neck and back of the hands) immediately after surgery.

For the surgical wound itself, I give patients specific instructions that usually include covering the area with a bandage. During this time, sunscreen is not generally necessary, especially if the wound is kept covered. After stitches are removed and the bandage comes off (usually about 1 week after surgery), I recommend starting the use sunscreen over the wound itself.

Surgical wounds and scars can darken in the sun. Therefore applying sunscreen to this area will help reduce how  noticeable your scar will ultimately be. 

I tell patients to use sunscreen every day, so I'm unsure why your physician only said to put it on after the site was healed and only in that spot? I am concerned. Sunscreen needs to be used every single day, and on the full face and any exposed areas, especially by people who have already had skin cancer and needed Mohs! If you the wound is closed (which, after 3 weeks there is no doubt) apply sunscreen liberally. The scar is new, pink skin and more prone to burning and sun sensitivity. The "sensitivity" of it does not matter. You need to be using sunscreen on the full face, every day, especially on the Mohs site.