As the days get warmer, many of us spend more time outside. Protecting skin from the sun should be a priority. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.
Studies show that exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. Harmful rays from the sun—and from sunlamps and tanning beds—may cause eye problems, weaken your immune system, and give you skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery” skin. Follow these recommendations to help protect yourself and your family from sun damage.
Sunscreen
Put on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. For people with thin or thinning hair, apply sunscreen to the scalp as well. Sunscreen works best when combined with other options to prevent UV damage.
Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.
Sunscreens are assigned a “sun protection factor” (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Use an SPF of 30 or higher to prevent sunburn and tanning, both of which are signs of skin damage.
Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Give babies and children extra care in the sun. Ask a healthcare professional before applying sunscreen to children under 6 months old. Apply sunscreen to children older than 6 months every time they go out.
Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
Some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don’t use them by themselves.
Shade
You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. It’s important to limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. Even on an overcast day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds. Stay in the shade as much as possible throughout the day. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside—even when you’re in the shade.
Clothing
One of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun is to cover up and shield your skin from UV rays. When possible, long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts can provide protection from UV rays. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Some clothing certified under international standards comes with information on its ultraviolet protection factor.
If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.
Hat
For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.
If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or stay in the shade.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.
It is important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun! Doing this when you’re younger can help prevent problems later in life. Using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses, and relaxing in the shade can help decrease the chances of sunburn.
Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator
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