|
|
With the arrival of summer, many people look forward to spending time outside in the sun. Whether you're playing sports, gardening or just lounging, using the proper skin protection products can help prevent sun damage.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are the primary cause of skin cancer, which affects one million Americans every year. As the sun intensifies during the summer, it is more important than ever to prepare your skin, lips and hair to endure these dangerous sunrays.
Here are some tips to keep your skin healthy & safe this Summer:
• Apply sunscreen daily: Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protector factor (SPF) at least 15. Apply 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. Give maximum protection to the parts of your body that get the most exposure, face, hands, forearms, shoulders, ears, back of neck, and top of head. Use a lip balm with a sunscreen for your lips, which can blister if unprotected.
• Reapply often: When outdoors for long periods of time, or after toweling off, excessive perspiration, prolonged swimming or vigorous activity, remember to reapply often.
• Wear a sunscreen everyday, all-year round: even on a cloudy or overcast days since 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog. Also, incidental exposure, the kind received unintentionally such as while gardening or walking the dog, accounts for 80 percent of lifetime exposure.
• Know the Sun Protection Factor (SPF): appropriate for your skin type and intended time in the sun. The SPF number indicates how many times longer a person can stay in the sun before beginning to burn. SPF numbers usually range from 2 to 50.
• Wear a hat and protective clothing: hats with wide brims provide additional sun protection as do tightly woven, dark colored suits and pants that keep the sun out.
• Don’t forget the sunglasses: Whenever outdoors, wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
• Seek the shade and avoid the midday sun: If your shadow is shorter than you are, you’re more likely to sunburn. Plan outdoor activities before 10 a.m. of after 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are less intense.
• Protect children: Minimize sun exposure and apply sunscreen to children six months and older. Keep children younger than six months old out of direct sunlight.
• Be particularly careful in high altitudes and tropical climates: Radiation is more intense in these areas. Remember to wear high SPF and to reapply often.
• Be careful near highly reflective surfaces such as sand, concrete, water or snow: Apply a sunscreen even when you’re underneath a beach umbrella; the rays can reflect off the sand and reach you.
• If you are taking medication check with your physician or pharmacist: before going in the sun. Some medicines can make your skin sensitive to the sun.
• Moisturize skin after sun exposure: Look for sun products that contain moisturizers, such as vitamin E and aloe to replenish the lost moisture after sun exposure.
• Learn the signs of skin cancer:
•A skin growth that increases in size
•A mole, birthmark, or beauty mark that changes color, increases in size or thickness, changes in texture or irregular in outline.
•A spot or growth that continues to itch, hurt, crust scab, erode, or bleed;
•And open sore or wound on the skin that does not heal or persists for more than four weeks, or one that heals and then reopens.
•If you have any of these signs, please consult your physician immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|