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The Sun and Your Skin
 A
suntan might look good on a
young body. However, that
beautiful suntan also means
you've damaged your skin! There
is no such thing as a safe or
healthy tan.
A "tan" is
damaged skin trying to protect
itself from solar radiation
exposure This damage could
make you look old before your
time. It is also important to
understand that the solar
radiation damaging effect is
cumulative.
The best way to
take care of your skin is to
protect it from the sun.
Ultraviolet light — the
invisible but intense rays of
the sun — damages your skin,
causing deep wrinkles, dry,
rough skin, liver spots, and
more serious disorders.
One of the more
important things to understand
about your skin and the sun is
that direct sunlight isn't the
only cause of sunburn.
You can get sunburned
even on a cloudy day
because UV rays can
filter through the water
droplets that make up
clouds. Clouds and
particulate matter in the air
scatter sunlight. Therefore, you
may receive a "surprise sunburn"
even on a cloudy day.
Below are
ways to reduce your exposure and
risk in the sun.
When
possible, avoid outdoor
activities during the hours
between 10 AM and 4 PM, when the
sun's rays are the strongest.
Always wear a broad-spectrum
(protection against both UVA and
UVB) sunscreen with a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or
higher.
Be sure to reapply sunscreen
frequently, especially after
swimming, perspiring heavily or
drying off with a towel.
Wear a hat with a 4-inch brim
all around because it protects
areas often exposed to the sun,
such as the neck, ears, eyes,
forehead, nose and scalp.
Wear clothing to protect as much
skin as possible. Long-sleeved
shirts, long pants, or long
skirts are the most protective.
Dark colors provide more
protection than light colors by
preventing more UV rays from
reaching your skin. A tightly
woven fabric provides greater
protection than loosely woven
fabric.
To protect your eyes from sun
damage, wear sunglasses that
block 99 to 100 percent of UVA
and UVB radiation.
Consider wearing cosmetics and
lip protectors with an SPF of at
least 15 to protect your skin
year-round.
Swimmers should remember to
regularly reapply sunscreen. UV
rays reflect off water and sand,
increasing the intensity of UV
radiation and making sun
protection especially important.
Some medications, such as
antibiotics, can increase your
skin's sensitivity to the sun.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist
about the medicines you take and
learn more about extra
precautions.
Children need extra protection
from the sun. One or two
blistering sunburns before the
age of 18 dramatically increases
the risk of skin cancer.
Encourage children to play in
the shade, wear protective
clothing and apply sunscreen
regularly.
Source: American Cancer Society |
