Summer is full of outdoor activities and is the most important time of the year when it comes to sun protection. You probably put sunscreen on yourself and your kids when you go to the pool or the beach. But do you know you should protect your skin with more than just sunscreen anytime you’re outside?
Sun protection is important all year round, and it’s best to use several different kinds, including both physical protection and using sun screen. When you’re working in the yard, watching a ballgame, or taking an afternoon walk, make sun safety an everyday habit so you can avoid getting a sunburn and lower your chances of skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the US. To know more about skin cancer, read our latest article on our blog!
Practical tips to avoid sun damage:
- Use sunscreen daily during all seasons and all weather
- Use a lipbalm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30
- Avoid being outside during the sun’s intense peak hours (10 am-4 pm)
- Seek the shade while doing outdoor activities to avoid direct sunlight
- Cover up to physically protect your skin when outdoors (wear long sleeves and long pants)
- Accessorize with a hat that shades your face, neck and ears
- Don’t forget your sunglasses, with lenses that have 99% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and surrounding skin
- Be careful around reflective surfaces, like the snow, water and sand that reflect the damaging rays of the skin and increase risk of sunburn
- Avoid recreational sunbathing and never use tanning beds or UV lamp booths
- Self-examine your skin regularly and watch out for changes
- Use self tanners to get your desired bronze summer glow without getting sun damaged
It is important to note that some medications can make you more sensitive to the sun and these include: folic acid, some anti-fungals and antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, blood pressure medications and chemotherapies.
How to use your sunscreen?
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation
- Make sure your sunscreen is water resistant
- Sunscreen has to be SPF 50 or higher
- It has to be re-applied every 2-3 hours
- Sunscreen must be applied 15- 30 minutes before going outdoors
- When swimming or sweating, sunscreen must be reapplied more frequently
- At least ONE full ounce of sunscreen must be applied and generously distributed across the face and body
- Sunscreen creams are better for dry skin, emulsions are better for the oily or combination skin and gel sunscreens are optimal for the scalp or hairy areas
- Lotion forms of sunscreen are best for the body
The sun is the skin’s worst enemy whether that’s because it accelerates aging, causes wrinkles and pigmentations or is a direct cause of skin cancer. So, make sure you do your skin a huge favor and follow our advice on how to protect yourself against the sun’s harmful effects.