Fun in the sun? It starts with what you wear.
Summer is upon us and everyone wants to be outside! Between family barbecues and long days at the pool, it can be difficult to avoid the harsh summer sun. The sun is most intense between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm during daylight savings time. UV rays are the greatest late spring and early summer. During those times, use these tips to help protect your family’s health.
Wear sunscreen
- Use sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher at least 15 minutes before going outside
- Reapply. Sunscreen isn’t a one-time deal. It needs to be reapplied every two hours you are in the sun, or after activities such as swimming or ones that make you sweat.
- Check the date on last year’s sunscreen. Sunscreen has a shelf life of three years, or sometimes shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
Choose proper clothing
- Long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric are best for UV ray protection.
- If wearing full coverage clothing isn’t for you, try wear a beach cover-up or a t-shirt. A t-shirt typically has an SPF rating of less than 15, so be wary of using it as your sole source of sun protection.
Stock up on hats
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to add protection to your face, head, ears and neck.
- Avoid straw hats with holes. Darker hats may offer more UV protection.
Sunglasses
- Sunglasses protect your eyes from cataracts and protects the sensitive skin around your eyes from UV rays.
- Choose eyewear that blocsk close to 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
We’d love to hear…how do you help protect your family from the sun’s harmful rays? Let us know in the comments, or if you need additional guidance, make an appointment with your primary care doctor today.
