Here Comes the Sun (Damage)
Sun safety never used to be a concern for me. Growing up, I rarely burned, and any burn was really just a touch of pink that was gone the next day. The thing about sun damage that many don’t consider—there is no going back and undoing things. Even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life. While I can’t go back in time and stop myself from those mistakes, there are steps I take now to minimize my sun damage risks.
The time of day you’re outside absolutely matters. Sun intensity peaks between the hours of 10AM and 4PM, so I try to schedule my outside time around that. Clothing provides a line of defense against sun damage. Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly.The more you can do to cover from the top down, the better. And as Wu Tang has taught us, you best protect ya neck! Commonly forgotten spots are the neck, ears, and tops of feet. If you’re someone who hates using sunblock, dressing in sun protective clothing can be a huge win. You get all the protection without having to apply and reapply sunblock!
When you’re getting dressed and prepared to go outside, remember to also use eye protection. At least 10% of cataract cases are attributable to UV exposure, so wearing UV-filtering sunglasses is a simple step to lower your risks of eye damage. Wearing a wide brim, tightly woven hat can help to protect your face, neck, and eyes. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas account for about 90 percent of all skin cancers, and often appear on the head and neck.
Sunblock can be a little bit complicated when you’re trying to figure out factors like chemical vs. mineral, water resistance, potential allergens, and more. I recommend checking out skincancer.org for more details but ultimately the best sunscreen is the one you will wear every day. For me, on days where I won’t be spending a ton of time outside, I use the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. When I know I’ll be spending a lot of time outside or getting particularly sweaty, I prefer the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60.
Do a little bit of testing to see what works best for you! The Skin Cancer Foundation advises everyone to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Limiting sun damage is not a single-pronged approach. It’s about taking multiple steps, creating numerous layers of protection. And make sure those steps are sustainable to you and your lifestyle. Be safe out there!
References:
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/skin-cancer.html
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/be-safe-in-sun.html
Credits: Photos by Aaron Burden & Todd Kent on Unsplash