Health Articles
> Getting Ready For Summer
Getting
Ready For Summer
Protect your Skin
from the Sun
The best way to
avoid developing skin cancer is to protect yourself from over-exposure
to the sun and sunburn. Sun protection will help prevent premature skin
aging and wrinkling. Protection from the sun should begin in infancy.
-
Avoid
exposure to the sun in the summer between the hours of 11 am and 4
pm. Engage in sports and other outdoor activities earlier in the morning
or later in the afternoon
-
Avoid
tanning, or at least avoid tanning for long periods of time, especially
between 11 am and 4 pm.
-
Try
and stay in the shade as much as possible when outdoors
-
Wear
broad brimmed hats (6 inch brim) and light coloured long sleeved shirts,
trousers and gloves made of tightly woven fabric. (One trick is to
hold fabric up to a light bulb; if it blocks the light then the weave
is tight)
-
If
you must be in the sun, be sure to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen (one
that protects against both Ultra Violet A(UVA) and Ultra Violet B(UVB)
rays with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 on all areas
of the skin that are exposed. (See sunscreen below)
-
Avoid
sunlamps and tanning salons. Sunlamps increase skin aging and increase
risk of cancer
-
Consider
sunless sun tanning products and bronzers, or skin tan makeup for
a healthy looking skin without the risk. But be aware that such products
don’t contain sunscreen
-
Check
your radio, television or Internet weather reports daily for the UV
index. The lower the index the longer you can safely remain in the
sun
-
Hikers
should be aware that UV radiation increases at high altitudes (4%
for every 1000 ft of elevation)
-
Insect
repellents may reduce the effects of sunscreen. If you are using both
products, apply sunscreen twenty minutes before going out in the sun
and the repellent just before. Combination repellent/sunscreen products
are not recommended. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
combination repellent/sunscreen products are not recommended because
the instructions for the safe use of DEET and the instructions for
proper use of sunscreen are different. Insect repellents require less
frequent application than sunscreens. Hence in order to keep yourself
protected from the sun you may be using an excess amount of DEET which
could be harmful.
