Protect your Skin from the Sun this Summer and Throughout the Year

Summer is here. While sun protection is often linked with summer activities like being at the beach, it’s something people should practice year-round. No matter the season or weather, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause sunburns, wrinkles, sagging, age spots, and most skin cancers. In the US, skin cancer is the most common cancer. While people with lighter skin color may be more at risk, people with darker skin tones can also get skin cancer.

UV rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun. They can reach you even on days when it’s cloudy, and they reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. They can go through light clothing, windshields, and even windows. UV rays can also come from tanning beds and UV or sunlamps.

The good news is that there are many ways to protect your skin. Keep your skin healthy and youthful with these everyday sun protection tips from the Cambridge Public Health Department. The more of these methods you use together over time, the more protected your skin will be!

• Put on a thick layer of sunscreen before going outside. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays (types of UV rays) and has at least an SPF 15 or higher. Sunscreen wears off, so put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after sweating, swimming, or toweling off. Learn more on the FDA’s website.
  • Have an infant younger than six months? The FDA does not recommend sunscreen for infants this young. Read the FDA’s guidance on sun protection for infants. There are other sun protection methods for infants, such as wearing a hat.
    
• Protect your lips. Apply lip balm or lipstick that has sunscreen in it.
  
• Wear sunglasses. They protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. Sunglasses also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
  
• Wear a hat. For the most protection, wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face, your ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays.
  
• Wear clothing that covers the skin. When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts, which can provide protection from UV rays. If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Some clothing is certified under international standards as offering UV protection.
  
• Seek shade. Reduce your risk of sun damage and skin cancer by staying in the shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter. Staying in the shade also helps with staying cool in hot weather.
  
• Be mindful of when UV rays are most intense.  UV rays are most intense in the midday. If possible try to schedule outdoor activities in the morning, late afternoon, or evening. If not possible, remember to use other forms of sun protection like wearing sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
  
• Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds. Tanning is not healthy; it’s a sign that your skin has been damaged by the sun. Tanning will not protect your skin from a sunburn.
  • Getting a gel manicure? While less risky than using tanning beds, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying sunscreen to your hands 20 minutes before your hands are exposed to UV light.

Here are some other important ways to protect your skin, 

• Take care of your sunburn: Be sure to drink water to keep yourself hydrated. Take cool baths or showers to help with the pain. Use creams or over-the-counter pain medications if your doctor allows. Stay out of the sun until skin is healed! Learn more at the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s How to Treat Sunburn web page and the CDC’s Sun Exposure at Work page.

• Check your skin regularly. Keep an eye on your skin for any new spots, spots that itch, or a mole that is changing shape, size, or color. Learn How to Do a Skin Self-Exam  and Checking Your Skin for Signs of Cancer by the American Cancer Society. If you notice any suspicious spots, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. When detected early, skin cancer—including melanoma—is highly treatable. Learn more about early detection of skin cancer.