Summer Kick Off
Memorial Day is the official summer kick off – grills are heating up and so is the sun. With that in mind, we wanted to remind you to take a few moments every day to protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun. And for those days when you’re not on the beach, it’s important to protect yourself and your kids from sun damage, too.
Sunscreen should be worn every day to prevent sun damage. Even if you have damaged skin from summers past, you can prevent additional damage by wearing broad spectrum sunscreen. Broad spectrum means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays with SPF values of 15 or higher. To get the most protection, apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure, and reapply at least every two hours.
But don’t get a false sense of protection just because the SPF has a higher number. UVA rays damage your skin without even turning your skin red (UVB rays cause sun burn) and may initiate skin cancer. Products no lower than SPF30 and no higher than SPF50 are recommended, but be sure they are labeled broad spectrum and have UVA-blocking ingredients such as:
- zinc oxide
- titanium dioxide
- avobenzone
- ecamsule
- oxybenzone
Sunscreen is just one vital part of your sun protection routine. Clothing with SPF is also recommended. Many companies are now making swimwear and clothing that has built-in SPF. Everything from bathing suits and fitness attire to dresses, hats, and sunglasses, are all available with SPF 50. The best way to prevent sun damage is to stay out the the sun altogether, but that’s a challenge when you live at the beach! So, when you want to take walk, go for a run, or dip your toes in the sand, just be sure to wear proper sun protection.
