Sun Safety

When the sun is shining, especially in the warmer months, many of us strive to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We love the fresh air, the blooming flowers, and, of course, the warm rays. Spending too much time under the sun, however, can pose serious health dangers.

Regardless of the season, staying safe in the sun should be top of mind. “It’s important to remember that while the sun provides our bodies with vitamin D to help keep us healthy, spending time in the sun without proper protection can lead to many forms of skin cancer,” explains Dr. Natalie Higgins, a facial plastic surgeon at Fallon Clinic.

To avoid the dangers of the sun, Dr. Higgins urges everyone to remember these six important sun safety tips:

1. Always use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Remember that sunscreen does not give you total protection, so when you’re out in the sun wear clothing to protect as much skin as possible. This includes a wide brimmed hat to protect your face from damaging UV rays.

2. Know what type of sunscreen to buy. While all sunscreens are made to protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet B rays (UVB), which can cause sunburn, many don’t include ingredients to protect from the more deeply penetrating ultraviolet A rays (UVA), which cause aging. Read sunscreen labels carefully to determine which products protect against both types of radiation.

3. Be sure to apply sunscreen properly, which means applying one ounce generously to dry skin over your entire body at least 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and more frequently if you are swimming or sweating.

4. Protect your eyes! Your eyes are susceptible to sun damage too, so wear sunglasses that block UV rays. Polarized sunglasses may help prevent cataracts also.

5. Remember that UV rays are most intense during the middle of the day, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Limit your exposure to the sun during these hours.

6. If you plan on being outdoors, check the UV index for your area to determine how strong the sun is, so that you can properly prepare. The UV index for your area can be found on the EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.

Fun in the sun does not have to be dangerous. By regularly using the proper sun protection, you can avoid painful sunburns and protect your skin now from future sun damage, according to Dr. Higgins.

Fallon Clinic is a large, multi-specialty medical group practice with more than 20 medical facilities throughout Central Massachusetts. For more information about Fallon Clinic, call 1-800-AT-FALLON or visit www.fallonclinic.org.