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I’ve always been a little jealous of people who can stay outside all day without getting sunburned. I wear SPF 15 lotion on my face all year round and apply SPF 50 or more to all exposed skin in the summer. But I’m starting to realize that my sensitivity to burns makes me better able to protect myself from UV rays.
The National Cancer Institute reminds us that even people who don’t burn are at risk for skin cancer. It doesn’t matter whether you consider your skin to be light, dark, or somewhere in between. Everyone is at risk for skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
July is UV Awareness Month. The sun emits radiation called UV-A and UV-B rays. Both types can damage your eyes and skin in different ways. UV-B rays have short wavelengths that reach the outer layer of your skin. UV-A rays have longer wavelengths that can penetrate the middle layer of your skin.
Broad spectrum sunscreens protect against both UV-A and UV-B rays. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a measure of the amount of solar energy (UV radiation) needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin compared to unprotected skin. I have read misinformation on the internet that the numbers correspond to a certain amount of exposure to the sun or a percentage of protection. There are many factors that affect the quality of protection of different levels of SPF, but in general, the higher the number, the higher the protection.
Remember that a more expensive brand is not necessarily more effective than a cheaper brand. A good rule of thumb is to use about 1 oz. or a handle to cover your whole body. Plan to apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun to allow your skin to absorb the sunscreen.
I recently visited Haiti and was surprised to see so many people wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts in very hot weather. It was a very practical way to protect their skin from the sun.
We probably don’t think about it often, but UV rays are not only bad news for our skin, but also for our eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers some advice.
- Select sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. Don’t be fooled by the color or the cost. The ability to block UV light does not depend on the price or darkness of the sunglasses lenses.
- Choose enveloping styles. Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap around your temples, so that the sun’s rays cannot enter from the side.
- Wear a hat. In addition to your sunglasses, wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes.
- Don’t be fooled by the clouds. The sun’s rays can pass through mist and thin clouds. Sun damage to the eyes can occur at any time of the year, not just in summer.
- Protect your eyes during peak sunshine hours. Sunglasses should be worn outside and it is especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon when the UV light is more intense.
- Don’t forget the children. Everyone is at risk, including children. Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses. Also, try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are strongest.
Today I leave you with this quote from Lawrence G. Lovasik: “No one needs a smile as much as someone who doesn’t have to give. So get used to heart warming smiley smiles and you will spread sunshine in a sometimes dreary world.
Emily Marrison is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences educator and can be reached at 740-622-2265.
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