On gorgeous summer days, people often spend a day at the beach basking in the sun. But we are now aware that the sun can be problematic for our skin, causing problems from premature aging to skin cancer.
Most people are well aware that it is advised that sunscreen be worn on a daily basis, or whenever you are outdoors even for a brief period of time. Yet, it seems that while many people are aware of the benefits of sunscreen, it is not a part of their daily routine. Most people only consider wearing sunscreen when they are planning a day out in the sun or are partaking in an outdoor activity.Most people hear warnings every day to keep out of the sun when it is strongest, and to prevent damage to our skin from the sun’s rays. Generally, people, especially younger adults, tend to pay little attention to this advice about the sun and skin cancer.
No matter how young or old you are, you need to take good care of your skin. Excessive exposure to the sun will lead to damage eventually even if it doesn’t appear for many years. Therefore, you should prevent damage from the sun when you are young so that it won’t become an issue when you’re older. Many steps can be taken to limit or prevent sun damage.
We often only consider applying sunscreen when we expect to be outside for many hours. However, we don’t consider it when we spend shorter periods of time out of doors. Your skin is exposed to the sun’s rays every time you are outside, even if you’re simply walking to work in the morning or taking a breather outdoors during the afternoon.
The standard protection for sun exposure is to wear an SPF of at least 15 to every area that is exposed to the sun. You should also keep your exposure between the hours of ten AM and three PM to a minimum. This is when the sun is at its strongest. It isn’t just during the summer hours that you should watch your sun exposure. You can still become overexposed to sunlight in the fall and winter seasons. Make sure you are wearing a sunscreen all year round.
If you sweat or go swimming, you should reapply your suntan lotion every so often. To be safe, apply more lotion every two hours, or more often for children. Infants less than six months old should not be exposed to the sun any more than necessary, since their skin cannot handle sunscreen.
Babies and children have extremely delicate skin, and thus are at high risk for sun exposure and even skin cancer. Limit their sun exposure by covering skin and outfitting them with hats.
Tags: aging, cancer, fitness, health, skin cancer, women, Womens