There are three main ways to protect the skin from the enviromment and the sun's ultraviolet light: sun avoidance, cover up clothing and sunscreen.
If you are an active person, it’s hard to stay out of the sun. If you are going to spend time in the sun, cover-up clothing and sufficient sunscreen are essential to prevent sun damage and premature aging to your skin.
The SPF (sun protection factor) of clothing has been studied. A typical summer weight cotton T-shirt has a SPF of only 7 or 8. The SPF decreases if the shirt gets wet. A higher number means longer protection. The minimum acceptable SPF is 15 and many doctors routinely recommend SPF 30 to effectively protect the skin from damage. Look for sunscreen with moisturizers to help condition skin while it protects.
Look for products with labels that say: broad spectrum, which means they protect against both types of harmful sun rays, UVA and UVB. Also look for "water resistant", which means that they stay on your skin longer, even if you get wet or perspire a lot. Broad brimmed hats and sunglasses are as important sun protection as well as fashion statments.
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun's UV rays are strongest. Don't be fooled by cloudy skies. Harmful rays pass through clouds. UV radiation also can pass through water.
Using Sunscreens Effectively
Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. Don’t skimp, use a handful every time you put it on. If you aren’t perspiring, it ’s best to reapply it every two hours. If you perspire heavily, reapply every forty minutes.
Don’t be fooled by any "waterproof" sunscreens, you still need to reapply it.
ALERT
Some medications and perfumes can cause chemical reactions with the sun. Retin A can cause skin to burn very easily and twice as fast. Diuretics can cause a rash or itchy bumps on exposed areas. Fragrances such as musk or lime can cause a burn or blotches. Tetracycline can increase sun sensitivity resulting in severe burning.
TIP for Soothing a sunburn:
Fill a tub with tepid water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Soak for at least 15 minutes. Vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties that help take the sting and swelling out of burns.
Avoid harmful tanning methods such as tanning beds, sunlamps or tanning pills. Tanning pills have a color additive that turns your skin orange after you take them.The large amount of color additive in tanning pills may be harmful. The FDA has approved this color additive for foods but not for tanning the skin.
