Sun damage is the leading cause of the most common type of cancer. Skin cancer is primarily the result of too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sun damage also causes premature aging, wrinkles, and discoloration of your skin in the form of sun spots and, in some people, persistent redness. July is UV Safety Awareness month. It is a great time to renew your dedication to protecting yourself and your family from excessive UV exposure and establish habits that you maintain year round.
Basic UV Safety Tips
- Try to stay out of the sun when it is most intense, between 10:00AM and 4:00PM.
- Always wear sunscreen when you do go out in the sun, even if you plan to spend most of your time in the car.
- Choose a full spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
- Protect your vision from long-term damage, which can culminate in cataracts, by wearing UV protective sunglasses.
- Stay away from tanning beds, period.
- Wear long sleeves and a hat for added protection from the sun.
- Remember that the sun reflects off of surfaces such as concrete and sand, so staying in the shade may not protect you.
- Sun damage can occur without a sunburn. A suntan is sun damage too.
- Glass does not protect you from damaging UV rays.
- You can protect yourself from the inside too by getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet.
Vitamin D
We all need Vitamin D, and one way to get it is through sun exposure. However, you have to get just the right exposure to actually produce the Vitamin D you need. Sunscreen prevents Vitamin D production from sunlight, where you live affects how much Vitamin D you can get from the sun, and once you start to burn, Vitamin D production stops. Consider taking a Vitamin D supplement instead of relying on UV exposure if you are deficient or unable to get enough of the vitamin from diet alone.
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