Let the Sun Shine
You love the sun but not its potential dangers. What can you do? Ease
your worries by learning to protect yourself.
The sun produces invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage skin cells and even lead to skin cancer. UV rays can reach you in all seasons and on overcast days. So think sun protection all year round.
Experts recommend always using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It should have an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher.
Apply the sunscreen to exposed, dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours as well as after swimming or when sweating. Don’t forget your eyelids and lips, too. Always wear UV-blocking sunglasses and apply a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Another key to saving your skin is wearing cover-up clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat that covers your ears and neck. Dark, tightly woven fabrics are the most effective. You can also look for special sun-blocking clothes.
One of the easiest ways to protect your skin is to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. Avoid deliberate tanning, too, which only ages your skin. For a sunny glow without the sun, consider using a self-tanning product instead.
Made in the
Shades
Your eyes need sun protection,
too. In the short term, too much
UV light can damage the eye’s
surface, called the cornea. Like a
sunburn, such injuries are painful
but usually heal quickly. Over a
lifetime, however, overexposure
to the sun may increase the risk
of developing cataracts and agerelated
macular degeneration.
These eye diseases are leading
causes of vision loss in older
adults.
To shield your eyes, always wear sunglasses and a widebrimmed hat when you’re outside during the day. Sunglasses are essential even if you wear contacts with UV protection. When buying sunglasses, choose a pair that blocks at least 99 percent of UV rays. For the best protection, pick sunglasses that wrap around your temples so that the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.
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