Are You Sun Savvy?

Tips to Stay Safe this Summer
As the days heat up and the sun is strong, protecting yourself and your children from the sun’s rays is very important to prevent sunburns, permanent skin damage, cataracts, and even skin cancer.

Most people are not aware that skin cancer, while largely preventable, is the most common form of cancer in the United States . More than one million cases are reported annually.

By following a number of simple steps, you can still enjoy your time in the sun while protecting yourself from overexposure.

The Sun’s Rays
The sun produces both visible and invisible rays. The invisible rays, knows as ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) cause suntan, sunburn, and sun damage.

There is no “safe” UV light. Even on cloudy days UV radiation reaches the earth and can cause skin damage.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the UV Index for a particular day. The UV Index is a prediction of the intensity of UV rays on a scale of 0-10+, where 0 indicates a minimal risk of overexposure and 10+ means a very high risk. This information can be found in most local newspapers and online. Anything above a 6 on this scale is considered high risk of overexposure to the sun.

Cover Up!
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that, regardless of skin type, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be used year-round.

They can be applied under makeup. There are many cosmetic products available today that contain sunscreens for daily use because sun protection is the principal means of preventing premature aging and skin cancer.

Sunscreens used on a regular basis actually allow some repair of damaged skin.

Sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and re-applied every two hours, or after swimming or perspiring heavily. Even waterproof sunscreens lose their effectiveness after 80 minutes in the water.

 Top 10 Ways to Be Smart in the Sun

• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days.
• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors.
• Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label when buying sunglasses
• Avoid reflective surfaces, which can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun's damaging rays.
• Protect children. Minimize sun exposure and apply sunscreen to children aged 6 months and older. Most damaging sun exposure occurs before the age of 18.
• No shadow = seek the shade! If your shadow is shorter than you are, you're likely to burn. Seek shade whenever possible.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Remember: the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.