Nothing is more important than protecting your skin at all times during the summer. While the sun’s rays can be comforting and refreshing, they can also damage your skin if you do not take appropriate precautions. The summer is a great time to be outdoors and active, but it is always important that you take the sun’s strength seriously – even when clouds hide the sun.
The brutally hot months of July and August are when you need to be most mindful of the intense heat. During these times, sun safety may be the most overlooked human health concern. People expose themselves to excessive amounts of sun because they skip applying sun tan lotion, spend too long in direct sunlight or do not dress appropriately. These are practices that can easily be avoided, especially when protecting your skin already comes naturally. All you have to do is apply sunscreen with a high enough sun protection factor (SPF) as often as needed.
Five ways to safely enjoy the summer sun:
#1 – There IS such a thing as “too much sun.”
• Every person’s skin can withstand different amounts of sun exposure
• People with fair skin, sun-sensitivity disorders and those taking medications that make them more sensitive to the sun need to be extra careful and limit sun exposure.
• Infants and small children are more sensitive to the sun than adults; because of their smaller size, there is a wider area of sun exposure.
#2 – Avoid exposure to UV rays.
• There are two types of UV, or ultraviolet, rays emitted by the sun that can harm skin and cause skin cancer.
• UVA rays are the rays that age skin cells and are responsible for long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles, and can also increase a person’s risk for skin cancer.
• UVB rays are the rays that can directly damage skin cells’ DNA, cause most skin cancers and are responsible for sunburns.
• Sunburns can substantially increase your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. However, exposure to UV rays can raise skin cancer risk even without causing sunburn.
#3 – Sunburns can happen on ANY day.
• UV rays shine down all year and can still be potent on cloudy days, so be smart and don’t pass on sunscreen just because it’s overcast.
• UV rays become more intense in the spring, which causes people to burn even when the weather is still cool, because they may not think about protecting themselves with sunscreen if it’s not hot out.
• Sand, water and snow all reflect sunlight, which magnifies the amount of UV radiation you are exposed to.
• Windows do not offer UV protection, so you may be getting exposed to harmful UV rays even if you don’t actually feel like you’re getting burned.
• People with darker skin have the same risk of skin damage from UV rays as those with lighter skin. UV rays can still penetrate the melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color. Though it may take a bit longer, sun damage can still occur.
# 4 – Protecting your skin from sunburns is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
• You can use a wide variety of sunscreen of at least SPF 30, which protects you against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Remember to reapply sunscreen as directed, usually every 80 to 120 minutes, and after going in the water.
• Shade is your best friend, especially when the sun is at its strongest point, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• In addition to using sunscreen as protection, wear a hat with at least a two- to three-inch brim all around. This protects areas that are often exposed to intense sun that are forgotten about, such as the ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp.
• Wear dark, dry clothes to cover as much exposed skin as possible and sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
#5 – Sun damage hurts now, too: smart treatment, quick relief
• A sunburn can take four to six hours to develop, so acting quickly and treating your skin before a sunburn is visible will spare you pain and lingering discomfort.
• After a cool shower or bath, be sure to apply a moisturizing lotion may help to soothe the skin and prevent peeling or flaking.
• Any burn will draw fluid to the skin’s surface, so rehydrate often with water, juice or sports drinks, and be on the lookout for signs of dehydration including dry mouth, thirst, reduced urination, headache, dizziness and sleepiness.
• As soon as you see the sunburn, taking ibuprofen can help to cut back on the swelling and redness that will occur. You should only take ibuprofen if you do not have any sensitivity to this over-the counter medication.
• If sunburn causes fever, chills, or is infected, seek medical attention immediately.
• A burn is infected if there is: irritation at the area, redness, tenderness and leakage of pus.
You owe it to yourself to protect your skin from sun damage. Doing so is simple and reduces your risk of cancer, helps prevent pain and helps your long-term health. So if you take just one thing away, be careful and take caution in the sun this summer so you can enjoy it with one less worry.
— Dr. Jann Caison-Sorey is a pediatrician, adolescent medicine physician and senior medical director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more information and tips on your family’s health, visit AHealthierMichigan.org.
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