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Sun protection

A year-round sun protection is important because the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) is very cunning. Its radiation can penetrate many of your clothes as well as go through automobile and residential windows. Worse, when you're on snow or ice, your face and eyes are at almost twice the risk of UV damage because of the reflected glare.

The fact is, the UV rays can damage your eyes, contributing to cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers. Research shows a link between sunburns and an increased risk of melanoma and skin cancer. That is why protecting skin from the sun during childhood and adolescence is important in reducing cancer risk. You should be especially vigilant because Ultraviolet (UV) rays can reflect off water, sand, and snow as well as reach below water's surface.

Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for those with moles on their skin or those whose parents have a tendency to develop moles. The sun is especially tough on very fair skin and hair and those who have a family history of skin cancer, including melanoma.

To give you an idea of just where the ultraviolet rays hit the hardest, consider the following. Out in the park, under a tree, the grass reflects 3% of the UV rays. When you’re under an umbrella on the beach, the fine sand reflects up to 20% of the UV rays and in the water, 75% of it can penetrate as deep as 10 meters. Even on a cloudy day you’re not safe for calm water reflects 35% of the UV rays. And when you’re out on working days, at lunchtime, in the city, sun bounces of the concrete and reflect 45% of the UV rays.

Its hard enough that UV rays are almost all around us, worse, 90% off all skin cancer can actually be attributed to the sun. By the age of 18, most people already received 50-80% of their lifetime exposure. That is why most skin cancer appears in adulthood though most of the damage occurs in childhood. In fact, just one bad blistering sunburn during childhood can double your risk of skin cancer later in life. If you think that UV rays that bounces off sand, snow, concrete and water can be dismissed, still, the reflecting rays can cause skin damage. Don’t even hide behind your frock because a white cotton t-shirt blocks out only about 5%, even less when wet.

That is why there is a big need for sun safety by protecting yourself and your family all year round. Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M and avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. Also learn to put on a hat that shades the face, neck, and ears and plan outdoor activities to avoid the midday sun.

Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day and remember to apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to all exposed areas 30 minutes before exposure. There’s also a need to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating and keep an extra bottle of sunscreen in the car. Keep your newborns out of the sun and Sunscreens should already be used on babies by the age of six months and up. Only choose a sunscreen that has protection against both UVA and UVB rays. This is referred to as "broad-spectrum" sunscreen. To avoid skin allergy avoid sunscreens with PABA and look for a product with the active ingredient titanium dioxide which is a chemical-free block. Don't forget your lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck and bathing suit straps when applying sunscreen. Don't ever try to scrimp and stretch out a bottle of sunscreen, apply the sunscreen generously and reapply sunscreen often.

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