• Home
• Blog
• Skin Care
• Here comes the sun! Easy tips to keep you and your family sun safe

Here comes the sun! Easy tips to keep you and your family sun safe

As spring blooms, so does our joy and love of participating in outdoor sports and activities. However, ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun is the cause of the majority of skin cancers. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and accounts for half of all cancer cases. Therefore, proper sun protection is imperative in the prevention of skin cancer. Easy tips to follow for practicing sun safety are:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the rays are the strongest. Try to get out and enjoy outdoor activities before or after these times.
• Practice the shadow rule.  If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. This is an easy rule to teach to children to foster sun savvy behavior.
• Be cautious when around sand and water. The water and sand reflect the sun’s rays and can increase your risk of sunburn.
• Wear sun protective clothing as much as possible. Cover up with cute sun protective shirts, tunics, pants, and rash guards to help protect your skin. There are many clothing options available that provide an Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF).
• Treat your spring and summer clothes with a protective rinse. Add a protective guard to your clothing by using an easy wash-in laundry aid, such as Rit Sun Guard Laundry Aid, that gives a UPF 30 and lasts up to 20 washes.
• Wear your sunscreen!  Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant product that provides an SPF of 30 or more to all exposed skin. Remember to reapply every 2 to 4 hours or after sweating or swimming. Remember your sunscreen on cloudy and hazy days as the sun’s rays radiate through clouds.
• Apply enough sunscreen. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen for adequate protection. Use a shot-glass full amount of sunscreen to the exposed areas on the face and body.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses. Don a pair of fashionable sunglasses with UV absorption and a broad brim hat. If you prefer a baseball hat, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
• Get a “natural glow” with self-tanning products, if you cannot live without a tan. Check Aveeno’s Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion, Sephora Collection’s Moisturizing Bronzing Body Lotion, or Clarins’ Intense Self-tanning Tint. There is NO SAFE TAN, so don’t opt for a tanning bed as the ultraviolet exposure leads to skin cancer and wrinkles.

Remember to practice these sun safety tips in order to protect yourself while still enjoying outdoor fun in the sun! If you have any questions regarding sun safety, call your dermatologist or contact Skincare Physicians in Boston.

One Response to Here comes the sun! Easy tips to keep you and your family sun safe

• Kathleen says:

  June 29, 2022 at 6:40 am

  These are great and useful ideas at the start of Summer. Thank you!

  Reply