 Summer is here,
it is time to head to the
pool or beach and have some
fun! Here are
some important tips and
facts to keep in mind.
1) Be sure to use
plenty of sunscreen before
going out into the sun. It
is best to apply sunscreen
at least 15 to 20 minutes
before sun exposure, and to
apply it liberally.
2) According to
the FDA, a product's SPF
(sunscreen protection
factor) number tells you how
long you can stay in the sun
before getting burned. If
you can normally stay in the
sun 15 minutes before you
start turning pink, an SPF
15 product will let you stay
in the sun for approximately
3 1/2 hours without burning.
If you begin turning pink
after 10 minutes, an SPF 15
will let you stay in the sun
approximately 2 1/2 hours.
The formula is 10 (minutes)
x 15(SPF) = 150 (minutes),
or 2 1/2 hours. If you're
swimming or perspiring, you
must wear a water-resistant
sunscreen which provides 40
to 80 minutes of protection
before you need to reapply
it in order to maintain a
sufficient level of
protection.
3) If you have
babies or small children,
sunscreen protection should
be of primary concern. Their
delicate skin is even more
sensitive to the sun's
damaging energy. All
sunscreen formulations that
have an SPF are regulated
closely by the FDA; the
formulations don't differ in
any way. For children's
products it is essential
that the one you choose
contains one of these UVA-protecting
ingredients: avobenzone,
titanium dioxide, zinc
oxide, Mexoryl SX, or
Tinosorb.
4) Tanning in the
sun or in a tanning bed is
equally dangerous to your
skin and your health.
5) You do not need
to get an actual sunburn to
do damage to your skin.
6) Even on a
cloudy or hazy day, the
sun's rays are present and
can damage your skin.
7) Sitting in the
shade or wearing a hat only
protects against a portion
of the sun's rays, you still
need to apply sunscreen.
Also, other surrounding
surfaces such as water,
cement, and grass reflect
the rays from the ground to
your skin giving you double
the exposure.
For more information on
protecting small children
from the sun, contact the
American Cancer Society at
www.cancer.org |
