With summer quickly approaching it is important to understand the importance of sun protection. While fresh air and sunlight provide many mental and physical health benefits it is important to get these nutrients and benefits safely. Protecting your skin from sun damage will help decrease the risks of potential disease and discomfort. Incorporating sunscreen into your daily routine is important no matter the weather to help ward off unwanted skin damage.
Considerations
Different people have different levels of sensitivity to the sun. The level of sensitivity is affected by a family history of skin cancer, photosensitivity, and skin condition. Sunscreen is a great tool to reduce your UV exposure and ward off sun damage and diseases such as skin cancer. It is important to note that sunscreen alone does not offer total protection from the sun. Choosing sun-safe clothing, UV-blocking sunglasses and hats will help further protect you from potential damage. Furthermore, opting to stay in the shade some when you are outdoors can help cut down on sun exposure and minimize damage while allowing you to enjoy the fresh air.
Best Practices
No matter the weather it is important to apply sunscreen every single day. The best practice to implement is to apply for about 30 minutes before going outdoors. Professionals recommend applying sunscreen over your whole body before getting dressed to help protect you if your clothing moves throughout the day. You should also apply after every two hours of sun exposure, or immediately after rigorous activities or swimming. Some of the most important areas to protect are the places that get the most sun exposure throughout the day. These places are the tops of your hands and feet, your ears, face, neck, and the backs of your knees.
What does SPF mean?
SPF means Sun Protective Factor. This tells you how long it will take your skin to redden from sun exposure compared to when you do not use sunscreen. For instance, 30 SPF will take you 30 times as long to redden than without any sunscreen, given that it is applied thoroughly. To pick the best SPF for your day think about how much time you will spend outdoors. If you will be inside a majority of the day you will likely only need SPF 15. However, if you spend more time outdoors you should pick a water-resistant 30+ SPF.
Types of Sunscreen
There are a few major types of sunscreen to consider when picking the best type for your day. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB. UVA are rays that cause sunburns, while UVB causes tanning and aging. Broad-spectrum SPF 15 is a great choice for a low sun exposure day, but if you will be spending more time in the sun SPF 30 and above would be the better pick. Then there is water-resistant sunscreen which is ideal for intense exercise or swimming situations. Water-resistance sunscreens are effective for about 40 minutes of swimming. Very water-resistant is another option that provides protection for about 80 minutes of swimming. In these situations especially it is important to reapply throughout your time in the sun to properly protect your skin.
Keeping these recommendations in mind will help you pick the best type of sunscreen every day for your level of expected sun exposure. Incorporating sunscreen into your routine each day will help protect your skin from damage and decrease your risk for skin cancer and sunburns. Bringing cool but full coverage garments, hats, and sunglasses will help give you that next level of protection especially for long days in the sun. These tips are important to keep in mind for this summer to help you enjoy your time outside safely.
For more information regarding sun protection and sunscreen check out these resources:
Top 5 Most Important Reasons You Should Always Wear Sunscreen
