Comparable to a forbidden lover, the summer sun can seduce you with its hot, caressing rays. If you’re not careful, it can leave you burned. While heartbreak can be healed with time and large quantities of ice cream, overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays cannot.
Ultraviolet light are invisible but intense rays emanating from the sun can cause serious, irrevocable damage to your skin such as sunburn, premature wrinkling, dry, rough skin, and in serious cases, skin cancer.
According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, a not for profit organization, skin cancer is the most common disease in the United States. Statistically, one in six Americans will develop skin cancer at one point in their lives.
While the statistics may be overwhelming, understand with a few elementary precautions, there’s no reason why you and the big, fiery ball in the sky can’t enjoy a healthy, productive relationship with one another.
Try to avoid the sun during the “peak” hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) when the ultraviolet rays are the strongest. If you can’t then make sure to cover up accordingly.
Wearing protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts or wide brimmed hats can minimize your exposure to harmful sun rays. Certain fabrics offer better protection, such as denim or cotton. Skirts instead of shorts are also more beneficial since they offer more coverage and stick less to your legs in humid weather.
When going to exceptionally sunny locales, such as the beach or at a barbecue, remember to apply at least one ounce of sunscreen 20 minutes before you leave home. Anything with zinc oxide or titanium oxide are most effective and non-allergenic, especially good for those with sensitive skin. Sunscreen can wear off after awhile so remember to reapply at least every two hours, especially after being in the water.
The same rules applies (pun intended) for moisturizer. Make sure you lotion has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
For more tips and ideas on protecting your skin, you can download free resource guides at http://www.healthywomen.org/skin_beauty/index.html.
