© Brooke Fuller - Fotolia.com
Skin cancer continues to be a growing concern. It’s so much easier to just not think about it, but often it’s up to us to keep others safe. That small child you have with you on a sunny day does not know that sun damage is cumulative and that a severe sunburn can increase his/her chances of skin cancer in later life. Be responsible for yourself as well as others!
Protection from UVA and UVB rays, doesn’t have to come only from bottles of sunscreen. Here are some basics to being sun smart.
- When using sunscreen, most people don’t apply an adequate amount! Dermatologists tell us that we really need to slather on sunscreen, don’t just apply a thin layer.
- Reapply every 2 hours or if you’ve been perspiring or swimming.
- You can also wear clothing to cover yourself as protection. A regular T-shirt only provides about an SPF of less than 15! There are actually clothes being made to purposefully provide more protection.
- Wear a hat! A hat with a brim of about 4 inches provide protection for face, scalp, ears, and neck. A baseball cap will not cover ears and neck, so don’t forget sunscreen on those areas.
- Wear sunglasses. Sun damage can affect eyes, as well as skin. The best protection will come from sunglasses that provide both UVA and UVB protection.
- Seek shade! Try to stay out of direct sun, especially from about 10:00 AM-4:00 PM (daylight time) or 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (standard time).
- Remember that UV rays affect you on hazy, cloudy days as well as sunny days.
- UV rays can reflect off sufaces such as water, snow, concrete, and sand.
