Safety in the Sun


 How Do We Protect the Skin We Are In? Everyone loves the warmth of the sun on their skin, but how much sun is too much sun? What can you do to prevent and treat sunburn? And how do you know if a suspicious spot should be checked out by a professional?

You’re about to find out the answers to all your sun-related questions!
Don’t I need Vitamin D? We all need vitamin D. It helps our bones, and without it, we’re at risk of conditions like osteoporosis. Vitamin D also helps boost the immune system.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it manufactures vitamin D; however, letting the sun beat down on you isn’t the only way to satisfy your vitamin D quotient!
Fatty fish, egg yolks, beef liver, and cheese are all good sources of vitamin D. You can also find milk and orange juice that have been fortified with vitamin D.
If you think you're not getting enough, supplementation is another option!
How Much Sunscreen Do I Need? Ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and other minerals act as a physical sunblock - they reflect UV rays from the skin.
The white-colored noses on beach-goers in the 1980s and 1990s were due to these compounds – thankfully, manufacturers today can make these compounds much smaller so that your sunscreen can blend in with your skin.
Sunscreens can also contain ingredients such as avobenzone or oxybenzone – which are organic chemicals that absorb UV radiation instead of reflecting it.
UVB vs UVA SPF Stands for Sun Protection Factor and refers to how well a sunscreen can protect against UVB rays, which cause burning and skin cancer. It could be helpful to think of UVB for “burning.”
Another type of radiation, called UVA, is responsible for age spots and wrinkles, as well as some types of skin cancers.
Choose sunscreens that are labeled “broad spectrum” to ensure that it protects from both UVA and UVB.
Currently, there is no standard in the United States for listing UVA blocking power. In certain European and Asian countries, UVA protection must be listed on packaging the same way SPF would be.
Applying and Reapplying Every time you use sunscreen, use about a shot glass’ worth (about one ounce) to cover your whole body.
Apply your first coat 15 minutes before you venture outside, then reapply every two hours for as long as you’re outdoors.
Expiration Dates Sunscreens are designed to remain at optimal strength for up to three years.
This means that you CAN use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next.
Some sunscreens will include an expiration date, discard sunscreen that is past its expiration date. Otherwise, write the date of purchase on the bottle and be sure to throw it out three years later.
Extra Protection It’s better to be safe than sorry! When you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure to cover up with lightweight, light-colored clothes. Make it a point to wear a hat with a brim to cover your eyes and scalp, and don’t leave your house without sunglasses on a bright day.
Additionally, if you’re buying chapstick or skin makeup, choose products that include at least SPF 15. Just take note that the trace amounts of SPF in foundations or moisturizer likely won’t be enough on its own - you’ll still have to layer on regular sunscreen
Skin Cancer Let’s go over a few facts and statistics about skin cancer:
More than 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer were treated in over 3.3 million people in the United States in 2012 – the most recent year that new statistics were available.
More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. each year than all other cancers combined.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated to be about $8.1 billion.
Regular and daily use of SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer, by about 40 percent.
When to Seek Shade UVB rays are most active between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Make every effort to limit your time in the direct sunlight during these hours.
Reflective Surfaces Water, sand, concrete, snow, and ice are all surfaces that can reflect UV rays and cause more severe sunburn. Further evidence that you should be wearing sunscreen year-round – even in the winter!
What about Cloudy Days? Up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds, which means that you can still get a serious sunburn on an overcast day.
But I Don’t Burn. It’s a common misconception that darker complexions don’t need sunscreen.
While melanin does protect from a small number of UV rays, every shade of skin needs sun protection!
If you have a dark skin tone, you’ve likely got a natural skin protectant of about SPF 13. You need about SPF 30 for reliable protection.
No matter your skin color, you’re still at risk of cancer, and wrinkles, dark spots, and burning from excessive sun exposure.
Avoid the White Cast Sunscreen is a crucial part of every beauty routine, but the white cast is can leave behind isn’t always attractive.
If this is an issue you’ve dealt with, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside so that it has time to soak into your skin. Also, use a separate type of sunscreen for your face – if you can find a gel-based sunscreen, that’s your best bet!
You can also try looking for a tinted sunscreen, or layer sunscreen on underneath your regular foundation or powder.
Do Regular Skin Checks If you know what to look for, you can spot warning signs of skin cancer early on.
Do a full-body check once a month in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror, using a hand mirror for areas that are hard to see.
You’ll want to follow the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter,
Evolving. For more information, check out this link: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-to-spot-skin-cancer.html
A Word on Indoor Tanning Tanning beds are NOT safer than the sun, whether indoor or outdoor UV rays, your skin will still suffer.
Also, tanning beds don’t help your body make vitamin D. They emit mostly UVA light, while your body needs UVB to create vitamin D.
Embrace Faux Tanning Most people fear looking orange from a spray tan, but thanks to technology and lots of experimentation, that’s highly unlikely nowadays.
If you love the way you look with a tan, do a little research to find a quality product, and check out this video on how to apply self-tanner: https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/self-tanner-how-to-apply
Take Note of Your Location If you live close to the equator, or in a high altitude location, you’re more at risk of burning. Take this into account when you’re on vacation too!
Keep Drinking Water While there’s no proof that water can help protect you from the sun (despite what some may claim), it is important to stay hydrated when you’re spending time in the sun.
Carry water with you when you’re spending time in the sun and aim to drink more than you would on a typical day spent indoors to avoid heatstroke.
Prevent Peeling Once you come inside from a sunny day, immediately apply a moisturizer, oil, or aloe-based gel to your skin, this will help keep it hydrated and make it less likely to peel.
Create an After Sun Skin Tonic Create your own DIY soothing after-sun cream with just four ingredients!
In a blender, puree a quarter cup jojoba oil and a quarter cup aloe vera gel.
Then add two tablespoons coconut oil and 2-3 drops of essential oil (like lavender), and mix on low to combine.
Pour into a sealable jar and keep in the fridge for maximum relief after a day in the sun!
Help Your Sunburn Heal Faster You tried to take precautions but still got a burn? That’s okay, take these steps to heal your skin:
-Take frequent cool baths or showers and immediately apply a moisturizer to help trap water in your skin when you step out
-Grab aloe gel and keep it in the fridge to keep it cool. Apply as necessary
-Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce swelling and discomfort
-If your skin blisters, DON’T pop them. Blistering skin means you have a second-degree sunburn
-Take extra care to protect sunburned skin from the sun and elements as it heals. Wear loose, tightly-woven fabrics that will help protect your skin from sun and wind.

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