Summer is coming but, before heading out to the beach, keep in mind that sunlight can be dangerous. If you spend too much time exposed to ultraviolet rays, you might get a sunburn, wrinkles, eye damage, or, in the most unpleasant case, skin cancer. Learn the tricks to keep yourself protected and enjoy the summer.
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight increases skin cancer risk.
- People are advised to always use sunscreen when they go out during summer.
- Thorough protection also decreases the disease risk.
Skin cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer among American men, and the sixth most common among American women. You only need one tough sunburn to increase your risk of melanoma, so make sure you get yourself protected before going sunbathing.
First of all, you need to know when the sun is the most powerful. From April to October, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the rays are the strongest, so try to avoid sunbathing between these hours. However, if you must be out, wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses. They should be able to block around 99 percent of the ultraviolet rays.
Of course, never forget sunscreen. Such cream keeps you protected from both UVB rays, which contribute to sunburn, and UVA rays, which might lead to skin cancer development and premature wrinkling. Sunscreen also comes with a protection factor. Make sure you choose one with SPF 15 or higher.
The ideal SPF is 30, but anything higher than 15 offers enough protection to keep you safe. Also, do not get fooled by the products with SPF 100 which claim to offer complete protection. No sunscreen can block 100 percent of the ultraviolet lights. Also, reapply it once every two hours or even sooner, if you swim, sweat, or use a towel.
There are ways to enjoy summer and stay protected at the same time. You only need to take care of your skin, always use sunscreen, and stay exposed as less as possible during the peak hours for ultraviolet rays. The less sunburns you get, the smaller is your skin cancer risk.
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