Summary:
With summertime approaching, it is imperative that you protect your skin from the sun´s harmful rays. The risk of developing skin damage, cataracts, and skin cancers such as melanoma can all be minimized if you follow the simple precautions outlined in this article.

Details or Sample:
Summer is right around the corner, signaling the start of outdoor activities like barbequing, swimming, and hiking. However, exposure to the summer sun can also lead to sunburn, wrinkling, and even skin cancer. While outside, it is important to understand some basic facts about sun exposure so that precautions can be taken to protect your skin.

Research studies indicate that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the single most important factor involved in the development of skin cancer. It is estimated that at least 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 65% of melanoma skin cancers are the direct result of UV radiation exposure. Having as few as five sunburns over the course of one’s lifetime is estimated to double one’s chances for the development of some form of skin cancer later on in life.

Not only does exposure to UV radiation lead to skin cancer, but also skin color changes and wrinkling, immune system weakening, and cataracts (an eye condition which impairs eyesight). A consecutive series of sun tans, whether deliberate or not, leads to skin that has a parched, damaged, and leather-like look.

UV radiation comes in two major forms: UVA and UVB. UVA rays are not absorbed by the ozone layer, penetrate easily and deeply into the basal skin layers, and are responsible for as much as 90% of the internal skin changes associated with aging. UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, do not penetrate past the outer skin layer, and are the main cause of sunburns. With the recent thinning of the ozone layer, UVB radiation, as well as its associated sunburn, has become an increased threat to people.

UV radiation tends to be greater during the summer months. Furthermore, because it can penetrate past clouds, UV radiation can still be prevalent on cloudy or hazy days. Being near reflective surfaces such as sidewalks, water, sand, and snow increases one’s exposure to the sun’s harmful rays.

In order to protect yourself from the summer sun and its harmful UVA and UVB rays, keep to the following guidelines. If at all possible, avoid direct exposure to the midday sun (between the hours of 10:00 am- 4:00 pm), when chances of skin damage and sunburn are greatest. If you are outside during those hours, seek shade or wear protective clothing, such as a hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved shirt. Remember the shadow rule: if you do not see your own shadow, seek cover! If you would prefer less clothing or simply cannot avoid direct sun exposure, then make sure to use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Sunscreens with SPF ratings of 15 or greater offer the best protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Unfortunately, many individuals do not understand how sunscreens work and still end up getting sunburned. The SPF rating of any sunscreen is defined as the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin to the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on unprotected skin. So, if a person of fair skin type requires 10 minutes in full sun to sunburn, a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 3 extends that time to 30 minutes. If a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 is used, the time to sunburn is extended to 150 minutes.

Sunscreens are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested for and marked by their SPF rating. Sunscreen SPF ratings can range from as low as 2 to as high as 60. However, just because one applies a high SPF sunscreen does not mean that the risk of sunburn is gone. Sunscreens can wear off as a result of sweating, swimming, or simple cloth-to-skin contact (such as while drying off with a beach towel). It is recommended that all sunscreens, regardless of SPF rating, be reapplied every two hours. It is also advised that the first application of sunscreen be allowed to absorb into the skin for at least 20 minutes before one goes out into the sun.

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Written by: Halina
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