Protect Your Skin: Mid-Summer Sun Safety Essentials
The middle of July marks the “hump” of summer, a time when school supplies fill store aisles and families are rushing to fit in vacations. It also means that we may drop our guard concerning sun exposure and cancer risks. As the risk of skin cancer continues to rise, here’s a mid-summer refresher to keep you and your family safe.
“Any amount of tan, and certainly sunburn, represents damage to the DNA of our skin cells,” said Dr. Aubriana McEvoy, a dermatologist at WashU Medicine in St. Louis. “And the more sun people get over their lives, the more of a chance there is for damaged cells to turn into skin cancer, which can affect our quality of life and, in some cases, the length of our lives.” In fact, UV exposure is a leading cause of premature aging and skin diseases.
Too much sun also can lead to wrinkles, coarse skin and discoloration, making skin look older than it is
Too much sun also can lead to wrinkles, coarse skin and discoloration, making skin look older than it is, she added. Some simple steps can go a long way toward lowering the risk of skin cancer while keeping skin looking healthier. Everyone can benefit, from those with fair skin to those with darker skin.
Sunscreen is a great place to start. Choose one with Sun Protection Factor 30 or higher, and be sure to use a generous amount, about an ounce for an adult at the pool, reapplying every couple hours. There are a lot of sunscreen options these days, so try out a number of them to find one family members like.
Clothes are another way to stay sun-safe. Long-sleeved shirts, pants and wide-brimmed hats do a great job covering skin and don’t need to be reapplied like sunscreen. And there are many inexpensive, lightweight options that are specifically made to protect from the sun and that have their own rating, called Ultraviolet Protection Factor. As with sunscreens, the higher the UPF number, the greater the protection.
The combination of clothes and shade from trees or sun shelters can be particularly important for kids. Sunscreen is not recommended for children under 6 months old. Older kids can be so active that it can be hard to keep them well-covered in sunscreen, McEvoy added. Shade and lightweight, loose-fitting clothes can also help with staying cool and feeling good on a hot summer day.
According to health experts, it’s hard to overstate the importance of drinking enough water, and it can be easy to get behind on hydration, especially on a fun-filled outing with family and friends. Try to keep a bottle close by filled with plain water or a low-sugar sports drink mix. Make it as easy as possible for the family to stay hydrated.
–Alan Goforth
