Summer Skin Safety

It’s that time of year again, summertime.  Summer time means lots of outdoor activities, from picnics, fairs, carnivals, swimming pools, to just hanging out in the sun.  It’s a great time for all.  But with the added heat and sun all of us need to take care of our largest organ, the skin.

Being outside is great but getting sunburned or bit up by mosquitoes is not so great and can actually cause our bodies harm.  It’s important to try and plan ahead for outdoor activity if you can. 

Here are some tips to keep yourself and others safe outdoors in the sun.

Guard Against Bugs

Protect yourself and other people from mosquito bites and other bug bites like ticks. If you’re walking outside and around woods it is important to wear appropriate clothing.  Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucked into boots or socks, is helpful to prevent bug bites.  It’s a good idea to wear light colored clothing if it’s hot.  In addition to wearing appropriate clothing, using insect repellant can further guard against dangerous bugs. It is important that you do not spray repellent on skin under clothing. If you are using sunscreen as well, apply the sunscreen first and then insect repellent second.  You can find the right insect repellent for you by using the EPA search tool at: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you. 

Censor Sun Rays

Use protection against the sun rays to prevent sunburn. Did you know that the sun can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes? Did you know that you can reduce your risk of skin cancer by seeking shade, wearing a hat, using sunglasses, and wearing sunscreen?  It’s all true!!  The risk of skin cancer rises with the amount of time spent in the sun. Being sunburned also increases the risk of cancer.  Even when in the shade it is still important to protect your skin with sunscreen or protective clothing.  Wearing a hat with a brim provides protection for your face, ears, top of your head, and the back of your neck.  When picking out a hat try to get one with a tightly woven fabric, like canvas, and avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through.  Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s rays and can reduce the risk of cataracts and optical melanomas.  The Centers for Disease Control states that “most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of the cost, meet this standard of blocking both UVA and UVB sunrays.”  However, wraparound sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the sides of the glasses. 

Sunscreen is very important for everyone, even people with darker skin.  Sunscreens work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight.  They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays.  It is important to recognize that not all sunscreens contain the same ingredients; if you have a reaction, try a different type and/or contact your doctor. 

What is an SPF?  Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking sun rays.  The higher the number the greater protection.  Everyone should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Broad spectrum sunscreen works to block two kinds of damaging ultraviolet rays: UVA rays and UVB rays.

Reapplication of sunscreen is as important as the sunscreen itself.  Put sunscreen on again if you’ve been out in the sun for more than 2 hours, swimming, sweating, or toweling off. 

Be sure to always check the expiration of the sunscreen.  Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of about three years, but if it has been exposed to high temperatures that time is even less.

If you, or someone you are caring for, enjoys time outdoors in the summer, play it safe and protect your skin.