By Dr. Brian
Keegan
With summer in full swing and the list of outdoor activities
a mile long, it’s important to remember that protecting your skin from the sun should
be at the top of your list. Excessive exposure to the sun affects people of all
ages. Studies have shown that 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is
acquired before the age of 18–making it that much more important to properly
protect your children too.
With July being National UV Safety Month, the more cautious and
aware you are about sun exposure, the better. Naturally, sun exposure causes
our bodies to produce Vitamin D, which is very beneficial to our health.
However, too much exposure can harm us.
Wear protective
clothing. This can be as simple as grabbing a hat and sunglasses on your
way out the door. Obviously, the more you can cover your body the better the
protection. This means long sleeved shirts, long pants and/or long skirts. Generally speaking, dark colors block out more UV rays than light colors, and
dry material protects better than wet material.
Seek shade.
Wherever you are, finding shade is always a good idea in helping prevent overexposure.
For example, if you’re on a picnic, look for big trees with wide branches to
ensure a lot of coverage. Or, if you’re at the beach, be sure to pack an
umbrella to keep the whole family cool and shaded.
Wear sunscreen and
reapply often.When choosing a brand of sunscreen, be sure to read the
label. Sunscreens with broad spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB
rays) and with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 30 or higher are
recommended. It’s important to be diligent and reapply at least every two
hours, especially if you’re swimming or doing physical activity that would cause
you to sweat.
Shelter your eyes from the rays. Choose
sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Look for glasses that say
“UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements,” both mean the
glasses block at least 99 percent of UV rays. Wraparound sunglasses that
have large-frames are also more likely to protect your eyes.
While the
best way to stay protected from the sun is to stay out of it, this isn’t always
realistic. Excessive sun exposure can lead to sunburn, skin damage, skin cancer and
uneven pigmentation of the skin. Take the right precautions this summer to
enjoy the sun safely.
Don’t forget to schedule regular skin screenings with
your dermatologist to ensure your skin is looking its best and staying healthy.
To schedule an appointment, visit www.windsordermatology.com or call 609-443-4500.
