SUN SMART TIPS
- Apply sunscreen or sunblock with Sun Protection factor of 15 or higher.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen, as listed on the label, to protect against ultraviolet B, the cancer causing rays, and ultraviolet A, the skin aging rays.
- Choose between a sunscreen, which chemically absorbs energy from the sun, or a sunblock, which contains products like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which reflect the sun back off the skin.
- Apply sunscreen every few hours while active outdoors and after swimming, even if the sunscreen is labeled "water-resistant."
- Apply sunscreen in a regular routine from face, neck and ears, to shoulders and all the way down, wherever your skin is exposed to the sun.
- A T-shirt only provides a sun protection factor of about 6 to 8 so be sure to wear sunscreen as well because you can get a sunburn through a regular T-shirt.
- Stay or play in the shade during peak sun hours, 10 AM to 4 PM.
- Wear a brimmed hat. This protects the nose and ears where many skin cancers develop.
- Always protect children from the sun. Eighty-five percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs by 18 so protecting children will pay off later in life.
- Have a full-body skin exam every year and be alert to any changing moles.
- If you have a mole that is new, or has changed, or doesn't seem right get it checked out immediately. If a mole itches, bleeds or irregular get it checked out right away. It could save your life.
- If you are outdoors a lot, be sure to wear sun protective clothing which is made with a special weave to protect against the sun.
- Ultraviolet radiation can cause cataracts. Speak to your eye doctor about the best sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun.
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