July is one of the best and most popular months for fun and sun, and that’s probably why it’s also UV Safety Month.
About the sun & UV: Sunlight has ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause early skin aging, wrinkles, cataracts and skin cancer. How much damage you get from UV exposure depends on several factors- strength of light, how long you’ve been exposed and whether your skin is protected.
And remember- there is no such thing as safe UV rays or safe suntans.
Tips for staying safe in the sun:
Cover up. Dress in tightly woven clothes that block out light. Here’s a test to try: put your hand between one layer of your clothes and the light. If you can see your hand, you’re not wearing a lot of protection.
Use sunscreen. An SPF of at least 15 blocks 93 percent of UV rays. To ward off skin cancer, you want to block UVA and UVB rays, so follow the directions on the bottle.
Wear a hat. Wide brim hats are best because it guards your neck, eyes, ears, nose, forehead and scalp.
Wear UV-absorbent shades. You don’t have to pay a lot for them, but make sure they block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
Limit exposure. UV rays are strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM. Not sure about the intensity? Try this: if your shadow is shorter than you, the rays are at their strongest.
For more info about skin protection, check out my source: Protecting Yourself in the Sun.
Photo from more.com
