Sunburn

As summer quickly approaches and people venture outside more, it is important to remember to take care of your skin. The number of Americans using sunscreen has declined over the years and people diagnosed with skin cancer has increased.1 A new survey released by the nonprofit Sun Safety Alliance shows a 12-point decline in the percentage of Americans who report using sunscreen when outdoors, from 72 percent to 60 percent. With the start of June and sun safety week (June 4th to June 10th), learn more about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones against harmful sun exposure. 2

Many people believe that sun protection is only needed when they spend the day at the beach or pool. Truth is sun exposure adds up day after day. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, types A and B, produce suntan, sunburn, skin cancer, skin aging, and eye damage. Every time you are in the sun, you are at risk. Following some helpful hints can help you protect yourself or a loved one from the effects of the sun.

One thing you can do to protect yourself is by using sunscreen. A sunscreen is something you apply to your skin for protection against the sun's UV rays, although it does not provide total protection. Sunscreens are available in a variety of forms, which include lotions, creams, ointments, gels and wax sticks. Everyone, especially children, should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 to help prevent skin damage from both UVA and UVB rays. The SPF number represents the level of sunburn protection provided by the sunscreen - a higher number means more protection. Although there isn’t much evidence that supports the use of SPF greater than 30. Sunscreens should not be used on babies younger than six months. Instead, use hats, clothing and shading to protect small babies from the sun.

UVA rays are most intense during the middle of the day, usually between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., which accounts for wrinkling, brown splotches, and leathery skin. The stronger UVB rays that cause skin cancer show up right around noon. A quick way to realize when the sun’s rays are the strongest is by seeing if your shadow is shorter than you.

The best way to protect yourself is staying covered in the sun, like wearing clothing to protect as much skin as possible. Dark colors provide more protection than light colors. A tightly woven fabric protects better than loosely woven clothing. A hat can also help protect the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. Finally, UV-blocking sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun damage. Research has shown that long hours in the sun without eye protection increases the chances of developing eye disease. 1

Many people love being in the sun and it is impossible to completely avoid sunlight. But if you follow these precautions and limit the amount of exposure to UV rays, you are reducing the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

References
1. American Cancer Society www.cancer.org Accessed: May 22, 2006
2. Sun Safety Alliance http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org Accessed: May 22, 2006