Did you know that the skin is our body’s largest organ? Yet, we sometimes forget that it is important to protect our skin. Overexposure to the sun is dangerous and is linked to higher risk of developing skin cancer. During this summertime, make sure that you take steps to protect your skin as much as possible when you are outside and under direct sunlight.
Here are 5 simple steps to protect your skin:
- Seek shade and stay out of the sun, if possible, when UV rays are the strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirt and pants that will protect your skin from the harmful UV rays.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face and eyes.
- Wear wrap-around sunglasses that are UV-resistant to protect eyes from most angles.
- Generously apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen to exposed areas of your skin, even on cloudy days. Reapply every two hours.
Besides the 5 steps mentioned above, keep these other skin cancer prevention tips in mind:
- Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. They reflect the damaging rays of the sun and increase your chance of sunburn.
- Use extra caution when at a higher altitude.
- Protect children from the sun.
- Avoid sunburns. Sunburns significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
To learn more about how sun exposure is linked to cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.
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