Be Sun Safe

Sunshine is good for you, but just how much is “good”?  Sunshine has the ability to lift your spirit, boost your mood and provide Vitamin D that our bodies need.  The “right amount” of sun exposure varies from person to person based on skin type and genetics.  What’s good for one person can mean serious damage to the next. 

 Experts agree that it’s not practical or even advisable to avoid the sun.  It’s best to get out and enjoy the summer as long as we do it safely.  Just as we only get two eyes during our life, we only get one covering of skin. It’s our job to protect it and keep our skin healthy. 

 The American Cancer Society developed a phrase to help adults and kids remember three preparations before going out:  “Slip!  Slop! Slap!”*.

Slip! - Slip on a shirt. Wear protective clothing when out in the sun. Choose clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you can’t see through.

Slop! - Slop on sunscreen. Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher on any exposed skin. Apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going outdoors, and be sure to reapply as necessary, especially after swimming, sweating or toweling off.

Slap! – Slap on a hat. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears.

When applying your sunscreen, don’t forget to cover delicate areas like your ears, nose, lips and feet!  Your eyes should be shielded from the sun’s harmful rays too by wearing UV blocking sunglasses.

 Last, be aware of time that will be spent outdoors.  Many of us remember to use our sunscreen and protective clothing at the swimming pool or beach, but don’t think about it when working outside.  Sun rays can be damaging everywhere and skin damage accumulates over the years.

 Allow yourself to go outside and savor the sunlight.  Be watchful of the times of day and always protect your skin from harmful rays.  Slip!  Slop!  Slap!

 

*https://www.cancer.org/aboutus/drlensblog/post/2008/05/22/sunwise-and-sunsafe.aspx

Information from https://www.cancer.org