Sun Safety
July 11th, 2014A day at the beach or a picnic in the park is one of my favorite summer pastimes. Just remember to make sure you take the appropriate precautions to protect yourself from the sun. Excessive ultraviolet ray exposure (UVA and UVB) can cause premature aging of the skin, skin cancers such as melanomas and basal cell carcinomas, and painful sunburns.
Here are some tips to protect yourself this summer.
- Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Be sure to look to see that there is UVA and UVB protection.
- Use water-proof sunscreen if you will be diving into the ocean or pool, reapply after toweling off
- Apply sunscreen liberally. If you are using sunscreen lotion, apply about a shot-glass size amount at least every 6 hours in the sun. Don’t forget your ears or the top of your head if you are bald.
- If you are using sunscreen spray on a windy day, the sunscreen droplets may scatter and give you inadequate coverage. Spray it on your hands and rub on your body instead.
- Remember that your lips can get burned too! Buy lip balm with SPF 30 or higher and remember to reapply after you eat.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face.
- Try to avoid being in the direct sun between 11AM-3PM when the sun’s rays are strongest
- If you plan on using insect repellant, apply the sunscreen first then the insect repellant afterward. There are also some combination sunscreen and insect repellents on the market.
- Wear sunglasses to prevent your eyes from being damaged.
- Drink plenty of fluids. You should drink at least 1 glass of non-alcoholic beverage every half hour while you are in the full sun. Stay ahead of your thirst. By the time you are thirsty, you are already starting to become dehydrated.
Summer is a great time to replenish your vitamin D and get some exercise. Stay safe in the sun!
