Sun Protection, Sun UV Safety and Sunburn Prevention

Sun Protection | Sunburn Prevention

You wouldn't go out in the rain without an umbrella or a raincoat, would you? Well, you shouldn't go out in the sun without proper protection, either. It's important to protect yourself from the sun's harmful ultraviolet, or UV, rays. The damage (what's often called photoaging) can be immediate and long-term, with effects ranging from sunburn, rashes, and cell and tissue damage to premature wrinkling, age spots and skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States. Many skin changes that often are identified with aging actually result from damage by too much sun.

But there are things that you can and should do to protect yourself. To help reduce your risk of skin damage from sunlight and photoaging, try to minimize your exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest. Even casual exposure to sunlight - driving a car, walking to the store, taking an outdoor lunch break - contributes to cumulative lifetime exposure. There are also sunscreens and sun protective clothing to help keep you safe from the sun.

Kids' skin is especially sensitive to sun damage; sunburns they receive now can lead to dangerous skin conditions in the future.

It is also important to remember that some medications can make your skin sensitive to the sun. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you may be taking. Certain antibiotics, birth control pills, diuretics, antihistamines and antidepressants are among the commonly used drugs that can increase sensitivity to the sun's rays.

UVA / UVB

Any change in the color of your skin after you've been outside indicates damage from UV rays. UV stands for ultra violet. The types of rays we deal with most often are UVA and UVB. When your skin changes color, it's because it is producing additional pigment or coloring to protect itself against sunburn from ultraviolet rays. Indoor tanning devices also give off ultraviolet rays that can be as harmful as those from the sun.

Even when it's cloudy and cool, you still need protection. And remember that sun damage adds up over the years. When a child gets a sunburn or sunburns, it can lead to dangerous skin conditions in the future.

Sunscreens / sunblocks

Sunscreens are rated by their SPF (sun protective factor). The SPF number gives you an idea of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For example, if you burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen and you apply a liberal dose of sunscreen with a SPF number of 15, you should be protected from sunburn for 150 minutes. Sunscreens with SPF numbers higher than 15 may be best if you are:

• fair-skinned
• live at high altitudes
• work or play outdoors for longer periods of time
• perspire heavily

Use sunscreen generously, and remember to reapply if when you swim or if you perspire a lot.

Many sunscreens have different ingredients or different combinations of the same ingredients, including:

• oxybenzone
• avobenzone
• Parsol 1789
• cinnamates
• salicylates

There are also physical blockers. Sunblocks include:

• zinc oxide
• titanium dioxide

Your doctor can help you decide which ingredients are most suited to your type of skin, especially if you are allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients such as PABA.

For daily sun protection, you might want to look for a moisturizer that contains sunscreen for those parts of your body that are exposed to the sun. Some moisturizers also contain self-tanning ingredients which may be able to give your skin a slightly darker appearance.

Sun protective clothing / sun protective hats

Sun-protective clothing and sun protective hats offer another way to protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun. These products use fabrics that differ from typical summer fabrics in several ways:

• sun protective fabrics usually have a tighter weave or knit
• sun protective products are usually darker in color.

Sun-protective clothes have a label which gives the garment's Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. This is the level of protection the garment offers from the sun's ultraviolet rays. The higher the UPF, the higher the protection you will get from the sun's UV rays.

There are even sun protective swimsuits. Sun protective swim wear may have longer sleeves and a high neckline, but come in lightweight fabrics that still make it easy to swim and move in the water.

In choosing sun protective hats, make sure you use one that covers the ears, and has a wide enought brim to shield your face and nose from the sun.

Kids sun protection / toddler sun protection

Clothing and hats with sun protection is also made for children. This is especially important, because sun exposure is cumulative - the more you get in your lifetime, the more at risk you are for sun damage and skin cancer. So it's important to shield children when they are young. Sun protective clothing can be a good option for kids who don't like getting slathered with lotions.

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Updated June 2011

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