My 4 Most Important Tips for Sun Safety
When you think of July, you’re probably thinking about the 4th ! When I think of July, I think about UV safety month! While I love me a good 4th of July celebration, the topic of UV safety is very important to me so it’s top of mind this month.
By now, most of y’all know over exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer. While skin cancer can be treated if caught early enough, it can be fatal if it is missed. From a personal perspective, as someone who lost a loved one to cancer, I would never wish a loss like that on anyone so I want to help prevent cancer by sharing my knowledge on sun safety.
From a professional standpoint, protecting skin from the sun is my #1 priority for a variety of reasons. When you have a skin goal in mind, or you just want to prevent pre-mature aging, sun exposure can literally stop our progress dead in its tracks. The short-term effects of sun exposure and sun damage include red, dry, flakey or itchy skin but the real side effects show up over time.
Most clients come to see me when they start to notice:
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles
- Sun spots
- Uneven skin tone
- Dry skin
- Dull skin
This is usually the point where clients start to take sun safety seriously and want to talk about reversing sun damage.
Don’t Let It Get to That
It is easier AND CHEAPER to prevent sun damage than reverse it. Plus, preventing sun damage helps ensure your skin is safe from the sun’s harmful rays and your protecting your body’s largest organ properly. So, don’t let it get to the point where we’re talking reversing sun damage. Instead, take UV safety seriously and follow these 4 tips for UV safety.
SPF – All Day, Every Day.
Make wearing SPF part of your daily skin care routine, then reapply throu
ghout the day. If you’re outside for a while, you should reapply every 80 minutes. Think of wearing SPF as putting on your protective shield against the sun’s harmful invisible rays!
To learn about SPF you might be breaking, click here, then head over and read my post about the truth behind common sunscreen myths.
Avoid Peek Sun Time
UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off o
f surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. In the continental United States, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) so if you can, avoid spending too much time in direct sun during these times.
Protective Clothing
If you really want to take sun safety seriously, SPF is not enough. You should add protective hats, sunglasses and clothing to your arsenal when spending time outdoors. This adds another layer of protection to support your SPF.
Get Your Skin Checked
Be proactive and learn the signs of skin cancer. Check yourself regularly but also see a professional dermatologist for regular skin checks.
