What props do you use for sun safety?

Published: Wednesday, July 4, 2018

By KIM HORTON
Times-News Columnist

Do you take selfies? It’s hard to imagine anyone not indulging in a bit of vanity from time to time with a smartphone. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77 percent, up from just 35 percent in the Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011. (Note to my Mom and Dad: Get with it.)

Summer is an ideal time to share selfies of outdoor activities—whether poolside, lakeside, beach side or the back yard. But if I saw your selfie on social media, could I tell that you were sun-safe? Do you always use sun-safety “props” such as a swim shirt, a pair of shades and a large umbrella?

Protecting your skin should be a priority. After all, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in our country. It can be serious, expensive and sometimes even deadly. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.

Even if you’re under shade on a sunny day or enjoying a cloudy, cool day, sun protection is always warranted. Remember it’s the UV rays, not the temperature, that can damage your skin. Clouds do not block UV rays. Not only can UV rays reach you on cloudy days, but they can reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand and snow.

Have you been told that people with a lighter natural skin color are more likely to get skin cancer than others? This is true. So is having blue or green eyes, blond or red hair and a family history of skin cancer. Any change in the color of your skin after being outside, whether it is a sunburn or a tan, is a response to injury. Skin cells signal that they have been hurt by UV rays by producing more pigment.

Do you believe that getting a tan is a safe way to get vitamin D? Please reconsider. Tanning harms your skin and increases your chances of getting skin cancer in the future. Although it is important to get enough vitamin D, the safest way is through diet or supplements.

If you’re heading outside today to enjoy the holiday, take a moment to gather these sun-safety “props” to stay protected wherever you go:

Sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher on any skin that will be exposed to the sun. Remember it’s not a one-time application. Reapply every two hours no matter what, and after swimming, sweating or toweling off.

Swim shirt. Sunburns often occur while swimming in pools, lakes or oceans. The water feels nice and cool, so you don’t realize you’re starting to burn. Also, the sun reflects off the water’s surface increasing your skin’s exposure to harmful rays. Wearing a swim shirt (found at sporting goods or swimwear stores) protects you from the sun and keeps you cool. An alternative is to wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants made from tightly woven fabric.

Hat. Be “cool” this summer and add a wide brim hat that shades your face, head, ears and neck.

Sunglasses. Sunglasses do double duty. They protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

Shade. Seek shade especially from late morning through midafternoon when UV rays are the strongest. This is a great time for indoor activities. If this is not possible, try to stay in the shade.

Finally, if you like to tan indoors using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp, be aware that the CDC states that this is just as dangerous as tanning outdoors. Indoor tanning has been linked with melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma).

This summer the CDC is asking for your help to raise awareness about the benefits of sun protection by showing the world your #SunSafeSelfie.

  1. Photograph yourself using sun protection.
  2. Post it on social media and tag it with #SunSafeSelfie.
  3. Practice what you post! (Plan ahead before outdoor activities, so you’re always prepared to stay sun-safe.)

For more information about sun protection, visit hendersoncountync.org/health. Click on the Sun Safety link where you can view the #SunSafeSelfie Photo Gallery.

Kim Horton is the communications manager for the Henderson County Department of Public Health. She can be reached at khorton@hendersoncountync.org.

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