photo courtesy of uncommoncarib.com
We are now in the middle of the summer and while it can be fun enjoying outdoor activities, too much sun exposure can raise the risk for long-term health problems, many of which may go unnoticed in the short-run.
We don't mean to cast dark clouds over some of the best months in the year, but by heeding some of this useful information, you'll be well on your way to getting the best of both worlds - protecting your health and indulging in summertime festivities.
Keep your sunscreen handy - This comes pretty highly recommended by experts including moms . It's an extremely effective defense against inflammation, sunburns, and potentially longer-term health problems related to the skin. Nowadays, there are more than a handful of different types of sunscreens available: lotions, ointments, creams, gels, spray, wax sticks, you name it, so pick one you love (that also has a decently high SPF) and lather it on!
Here are few things to keep in mind:
Apply generously and often. The trick to making sunscreen effective is knowing when and how often to use it. Applying it 15 to 30 minutes prior to prolonged sun exposure gives it ample time to soak into your skin and provide maximum protection. The amount that you should be applying should take you approximately one full minute to completely rub in, so make sure you're using enough for your body size.
If you plan on spending some time at the beach, use at least 1 full ounce - enough to fill a shot glass - on your entire body including your face. If you feel like you need more, by all means, go the distance. And if you're planning on working up a sweat or jumping in the water, remember to reapply every two hours.
Make sure your sunscreen is water resistant and has an SPF of 15 or higher. Water resistant sunscreen has pretty much become the standard, at this point. It makes sense. If you're outside and it's hot and sunny, you'll probably be sweating. If you're by the pool, beach, lake or any other body of water, you'll most likely jump in at some point. In both cases, you don't want your sweat or water to remove that protective coat for your skin.
According to The American Academy of Dermatology, a sunscreen's SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. For example, with an SPF 2 sunscreen a person who normally (without sunscreen) would turn red after 10 minutes of sun exposure would take 20 minutes to turn red. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 would allow that person to multiply that initial burning time by 30, which means it would take 30 times longer to burn. However, SPF should not be used to determine time in the sun. - (webmd)
Choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection. Sunscreens containing cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), benzophenones (oxybenzone), salicylates, sulisobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and avobenzone are ones that will provide this kind of protection. (Parsol 1789)
If your favorite sunscreen is lacking in these ingredients, it may really only be filtering UVB - the most commonly known culprit in skin cancer and sunburns. However, protecting yourself from UVA is just as important. This often overlooked type of UV ray is responsible for premature aging and other forms of skin-related issues.
