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If you're heading out on the boat or planning to hit the park, beach or pools this summer..the one thing
that needs to be on all our minds-is sun protection. And when I say sun protection-it's much more than just a bottle of sunscreen.
Some simple things to pack in your bag to prevent early aging of the skin but more importantly skin
cancer include a shirt, hat, sunglasses and of course, a sunscreen with an sun protection factor or SPF of at least 15.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States-it affects more than one million
Americans every year. Experts say serious sunburns can increase your risk of getting skin cancer by as much as 50-percent. When it comes to early aging of the skin, it shows up as wrinkles, freckles and age spots.
Before heading out into the sunshine-here are some tips to protect you from damaging your largest
organ-your skin:
1. Use sunscreen on a regular basis. Apply it about 30 minutes before going out. Reapply it every
two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.
2. Shade yourself. Wear a broad-brimmed hat to shield the scalp, face, ears and the back of your
neck
3. Protect your eyes with sunglasses -Ultraviolet rays increase your risk of getting cataracts. Make
sure your sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of the full UV spectrum.
4. Avoid the sun during peak sun hours-that's between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
5. Keep an eye on any moles. If you notice any changes in the size, color or texture-get it checked out
by a dermatologist.
6. Finally, Clouds are not protection-harmful rays can penetrate through overcast skies. So make sure
to still protect yourself on those gray days of summer.
One last tip-when slathering on your sunscreen-don't miss those easy to forget spots like your
earlobes, ankles and the tops of your feet. Sun protection is really all about common sense-cover up now and you'll thank yourself in years to come. |