We hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Lately, with all of this beautiful BC weather, we've heard a lot of complaints of sunburns. No matter how hard we try, it happens to the best of us! In today's blog, we thought it would be helpful to create a quick overview of sun safety. We hope that this will help you to better understand how to protect yourself from the sun, and continue exploring the outdoors this summer!
Risk Factors
Anyone who is exposed to the sun is at risk of skin damage, premature aging and melanoma, but there are some risk factors that lead to a higher risk.
- Ultraviolet (UV) exposure: UV is the type of rays that the sun sends out. There are two types of UV rays: UVB, which are the short rays that cause sunburn, and UVA rays which go deeper and cause effects that are considered more long-term, like wrinkles.
- Fair skin: The risk is higher for those with fair-skin, blond or red hair, blue or green eyes, and predisposition to freckles and sunburns. But even if you don't burn easily, you are still at risk! Skin damage happens to everyone.
- Age: The older you get, the more UV exposure you will have had.
Being Sun Safe
What can you do to reduce your risk of skin damage and melanoma? Being sun-safe doesn't have to be a big deal; there are lots of small things that you can do on a daily basis to protect your skin.
- Use sunscreen! Indeed this is a very easy addition to your daily skin care routine. After waking up and washing your face, use a moisturizer with SPF to start your day. No matter if it's sunny or overcast outside, the risk of UV rays is there. If you plan on being outside at the beach or a pool, apply full-coverage sunscreen to all exposed areas about 30 minutes before you're going to be outside, and reapply every 2 hours (more often if you are swimming or sweating). If you don't like the smell of 'traditional' sunscreen or are accustomed to the white residue it leaves on the skin, don't worry! Sunscreen technology has come a long way, and now there are tons of different options, from sprays to sunscreen sticks, to skin-matching serums. There are also reef-safe sunscreens that don't leach harmful chemicals if you know you're going to be swimming in lakes or the ocean and don't want to harm the local wildlife. There has been some research lately into how safe the chemicals in sunscreens are for your skin when used for long periods of time. One thing is certain at this time - sunscreen has been proven to successfully block the sun's harmful rays and prevent skin damage. On that note, although some sunscreens are advertised as 'organic' or 'natural', there is no such thing; the compounds in sunscreen are chemicals and minerals - don't be fooled!
- Cover up. If you know you're going to be spending time enjoying the outdoors, protect yourself. Brimmed hats and sunglasses protect the sensitive skin on your face and your eyes, while swim shirts are advisable
- Check yourself. Plan a frequent check of your skin for any new or changing moles - once per month is a good start. If you do notice anything unusual, make an appointment with your doctor. While this doesn't reduce the risk of melanoma directly, if there is something going on, it is much better to catch it sooner than later.
For more information, check out: https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2019/04/what-to-know-about-sunscreen, https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2016/07/tips-to-reduce-your-risk-of-skin-cancer-this-summer, https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/what-you-need-to-know-about-sunscreen-ingredients/
