How to Effectively Protect Your Skin from the Sun

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.