Spending time outside, especially sunbathing at the beach, is a lot of fun but do not forget the harmful elements like UV rays that the sun exposes us to other than the good Vitamin D. Overexposure to UV rays of the sun can lead to skin cancer.
Sun is the primary source of UV rays but other man-made things like tanning beds and sun lamps also expose the delicate skin of human beings to harmful and dangerous rays. UVA and UVB are the main types of rays that can affect your skin.
Although both these types of rays can damage skin and cause skin cancer UVB rays have more energy and the potential to cause more damage. This exposure does not only cause cancer but other ailments like vision damage, cataracts, skin aging, etc also.
The visibility of the damage caused by UV rays is not seen until it’s too late, so it is better to prevent these rather than search for a cure in the future.
Well, we all know the basics now, so let’s move on to some ways which defend you against damaging UV rays.
- Seek Shade
An obvious and easiest way to protect yourself from exposure to UV rays is to avoid being outdoors, especially the time between 10 am to 4 pm when UV exposure is the strongest.
It does not matter if the sun is shining right above your head or is hiding in the clouds, UV rays still touch the earth’s surface. Be extra careful on beaches or areas with snow as sand, water, and snow reflect sunlight, increasing UV radiation exposure.
Some amount of UV rays pass through everything – be it the home, car, office windows, or anything else. All these things can block UVB rays but a small portion of UVA rays can pass and cause minor damage.
Irrespective of the shade, you must be wearing sunscreen and protective clothing. You can carry an umbrella with you, or stand under a tree or a man-made shelter to reduce the effect of UV exposure.
- Sunscreen
After cleansing your face with a face cleanser, wearing sunscreen is not enough, you need to wear the right kind of sunscreen and reapply it after every few hours throughout the day, especially when you are out. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects your skin from both types of radiation, which means it gives you maximum protection.
A broad-spectrum sunscreen has to undergo rigorous testing to prove that it gives protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. In addition to a broad-spectrum sunscreen, your sunscreen must also have an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 or above. A higher SPF will reduce the risk of sunburn and UV exposure.
Keep a check on the expiration date of sunscreen to make sure that it is still effective. Before using the sunscreen, rigorously shake the bottle to mix all the ingredients back together.
One palmful of sunscreen, minimum, must be applied to your face, neck, arms, and legs. Keep reapplying your sunscreen after every 2 hours, especially if you are swimming or the weather’s too hot.
Sunscreen cannot be labeled as “waterproof” or “sweatproof”. Many sunscreens claim that they are water resistant but they must mention how long they are protecting the skin while swimming or sweating.
Another thing to keep in mind is that sunscreen is just a filter and does not block all the UV rays. Wearing sunscreen does not mean that you stay out in the sun for too long.
- Protective Clothing
Protective clothing can shield your skin from getting hit directly with UV rays. When going for a day of hiking, picnic, yard work, or just lounging, wear appropriate protective clothing in addition to the application of sunscreen.
Clothes like Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or long skirts cover most areas of the skin and provide different levels of protection from UV rays. Dark colors are more protective than light colors and a tightly woven fabric is more protective than loosely woven clothing.
You can check this by holding the piece of clothing in direct sunlight. If you can see your hand through the clothes then that fabric is not tightly woven enough to protect from the UV rays.
Some clothes come with a built-in UV protector factor. You can find this out by checking the labels and tags of the clothes.
- UV Blocking Sunglasses
Even if you wear sunscreen, you cannot protect your eyes from damage. UV rays can cause cataracts, cancer, or growth in the eye. The skin around the eyes is sensitive and so your skin is at risk of sunburn, possible skin cancer, and even permanent eyesight damage.
The ideal sunglasses are those which block 99% to 100% of the UVA and UVB rays. Before buying, ensure that the label says “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements”. This means that the glasses can block at least 99% of UV rays.
The glasses labeled “cosmetic” block 70% of the UV rays. Large and wide-framed glasses are more likely to give protection from different angles. Contact lenses can also protect eyes but they only protect the eyeballs and not the entire area.
- Hat
Wear a hat that has at least 2-3 inches of brim around it. This will protect those areas which are most exposed to the intense heat of the sun such as the eyes, nose, ears, forehead, scalp, etc. To reduce the number of UV rays from reflective surfaces like water, a hat that has a dark, non-reflective underside can be used.
There is a hat made specifically for protection against these rays which looks like a baseball cap minus the 7 inches of fabric around the side and back.
If you don’t have a good cap, you can make one by wearing a large handkerchief under a bandana or a baseball cap.
The baseball cap will protect the front and top of the head but the neck and the ears remain exposed, which is the most common area for skin cancer.
Wrapping Up
Everyone is at risk of diseases caused by the sun irrespective of their age, gender, or the place they reside in. So, it is important to protect your family and yourself.
