It’s the middle of the summer season and people are still flocking to the beach to engage in sports activities, sight seeing, or simply lazing around to enjoy the sun and the sand. But summer fanatics beware! Don’t be mesmerized by the water and the scenic view because having too much fun in the sun can have ill effects on your skin. Overexposure to the sun can cause eye problems, wrinkles, skin spots and skin cancer. Here are a few facts that you should know about the summer sun and the steps that you can take to protect your skin.
- The sun’s rays consist of ultra-violet (UV) rays that emit radiation and damage our skin. UV Radiation is strongest from 10am to 3pm.
- UVA penetrates deeper through the skin, causes wrinkling, skin aging, and has a greater role in skin cancer.
- UVB causes sunburn, redness, swelling and darkening, cataracts and also contributes to skin cancer.
As a precaution, avoid exposing yourself to the sun from 10am to 4pm when the UV rays are most damaging to your skin. If you can’t avoid going out during this period, wear protective clothing to shield your skin, give extra protection for the kids since they get sunburned easily. You may also wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to protect your eyes. In choosing your eyewear, get sunglasses that absorb UV rays. They can help prevent cataract, macular degeneration or skin cancer around the eyelids.
Lastly, don’t forget to apply sunblock or sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out even on cloudy days. Minimum coverage should be SPF 15 and should be reapplied every 30 minutes of exposure. Use more that half a teaspoon of sunblock for each of the following areas: head & neck area, left arm, right arm. More than a teaspoon is required for each of the ff regions of your body: Right leg, left leg, front torso, back torso. It is recommended that you choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with higher UVA protection.
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