No matter what time of year, your skin can show signs of sun damage, including wrinkles and age spots. You need to protect your skin from sun damage and provide protection against skin cancer. Read on for a few basic things you can do to protect your skin year-round.
Sun Protection Tips
- Limit your time in the sun. Find shade during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s damaging rays are the strongest.
- Use sunscreen and apply generously. There are many different sunscreens to choose from when you walk down the grocery store aisle. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both ultraviolet A and B rays. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Apply liberally and re-apply every 80 minutes or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
- Don’t forget your lips. Use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- Wear a hat. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that covers your entire head, neck and ears.
- Wear sunglasses. Buy the broad-spectrum sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
- Choose sun-protective clothing. The more skin you cover, the better. Dark clothes block out more rays than lighter-colored clothing. Tightly woven fabrics filter out more UV rays than open-weave fabrics. Some clothes are made from materials that have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) and made specifically for outdoor, active wear.
- Check your medications. Certain medications, including specific types of antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, can make you more sensitive to the sun.
Simply wearing sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to prevent millions of cases of skin cancer each year. However, it is also easy to forget to slather it on before leaving the house or taking your sunscreen bottle with you wherever you go. If you are interested in learning more about protecting your skin in the sun and ways to reverse or improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, call (480) 610-6366 for a consultation.
