Sun Protection

Protecting from UV Rays Put on a hat to protect your face. Always use sunscreen. Wear a shirt to cover yourself from the sun. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and skin around them.

Seek the Shade From approximately 10am-4pm the UV rays are at their peak. Even on overcast days, the sun still produces a remarkable amount of UV rays. You can still be sunburned! UV rays can penetrate through windows. So always remember to keep your skin protected! Tinted windows can help manipulate the rays’ intensity.

Apply Sunscreen Properly Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is 30 SPF or greater and water resistant. Apply GENEROUSLY about 15 minutes before going outside for best protection. Reapply every two hours or after swimming and/or sweating. Cover all exposed areas!

Avoid Tanning Beds Tanning beds are an artificial way to get a tan. New high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning beds actually emit UV radiation doses as much as 12 times greater than the sun. The damage caused by UV radiation can lead to premature aging of the skin, skin cancer, and even eye damage if goggles aren’t worn. People that use tanning beds are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.

Sunburn Care Get the Heat Out. Cover the irritated area with a cool, damp towel for 10-15 minutes a few times daily Moisturize with aloe vera or soy-containing products. Avoid lotions/creams with ingredients petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine- these trap the heat Hydrate. Prevent against dehydration by drinking extra water when sunburnt Keep it covered. Until the burn heals, wear clothing that will protect you from extra sunlight

Skin Cancer and UV Exposure Facts A tan is your skin’s way of trying to protect itself from damaging UV rays. Tans gives you very little protection from the sun – about SPF 3. One in five Americans will get skin cancer. Five or more sunburns early in life doubles lifetime risk for melanoma.

Detect Skin Cancer Early At least 95% of skin cancer can be cured if detected early. Check your skin on a monthly basis for changes in the size, number, shape, and color of spots or moles. Look for sores that don’t heal. Report unusual findings to your doctor.

Sources Cancer.org Skincancer.org Americanskin.org Cdc.org Aad.org