Spring Break is almost upon us, so now is a good time to brush up on some sun safety info.
First things first, why is sun safety important?
Besides the seriously painful sunburns, exposure to the UV rays in sunlight is a direct cause to most skin cancers. We all enjoy some time in the sun, especially during spring break, so it is important to follow some simple steps to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer due to sun exposure. The following are recommendations from the American Cancer Society.
Avoid direct sun exposure between 10am and 4pm. Obviously, this is also prime beach time. Try to hit the beach early then take cover for the afternoon, or do a vacation activity during the day and visit the beach in the evening for a beautiful sunset.
Seek shade, especially when the sun’s rays are the strongest in the middle of the day. When outside, protect yourself with a thick umbrella, especially at outdoor restaurants where you may not have remembered to put on some sunscreen.
Follow the Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap rule.
Slip on a shirt. Cover up to guard your skin from the rays as much as possible when out in the sun. Make sure your clothes are tightly woven, even though see through tops are in fashion, the sun will be able to see right through them too.
Slop on sunscreen. Use sunscreen and lip balm with broad-spectrum protection and sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Apply liberally every two hours when outdoors. Also, be sure to check your sunscreen’s expiration date before you leave, and even if it hasn’t expired, shake the bottle to remix the ingredients. Remember that sunscreen doesn’t protect from all UV rays, so don’t use sunscreen as a way to stay out in the sun longer.
Slap on a hat. Cover your head with a wide brimmed hat to shade your face, ears, and neck. Shop for some cute floppy beach hats from Marley Lilly here.
Wrap on sunglasses. Wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB absorption to protect your eyes. The bigger the better, make sure your sunnies are of sufficient size to protect your eyelids and surrounding eye areas. Don’t take them off for a beach nap either, the soft and thin skin around your eyes is very susceptible to burning and skin cancer.
Hopefully these tips have provided you with enough sun safety info to stay safe next week. Have a great break!
Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/healthy/besafeinthesun/index?sitearea=PED
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Beach,_California
http://hauteliving.com/2010/06/al-fresco-the-haute-5-outdoor-dining-restaurants-in-miami/60588/
http://towerreview.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/facts-and-hints-for-safe-sum…
http://polishandpajamas.blogspot.com/2012/06/marley-lilly-monogrammed-derby-hat.html
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