How to Protect Yourself from Sun Exposure

The pointers in this article are not intended to alarm you, but to arm you with what you need to protect yourself from sun exposure as we go through the summer months and anywhere temperatures often exceed 80 degrees. The National Institute of Health (NIH) provides the following guidelines to protect yourself from over-exposure to the sun:

• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, which should be reapplied every two hours.
• Limit your exposure during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when ultra-violet (UV) radiation is especially intense.
• Wear protective clothing. Cover your arms and legs with tightly woven, loose-fitting clothes. This is a challenge for those of us who live in warmer climates because our preference is to wear less, but by being selective about the type of fabric, we can still remain cool but protected.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck - an often overlooked part of the body when it comes to providing sun protection.
• Sunglasses: Wear a good-quality wraparound pair of sunglasses. Otherwise, select one with wide side panels that provide 99-100 percent UVA (the UV that causes premature aging) and UVB (the UV that results in burns to the skin) protection to reduce the risk of eye damage.
• Avoid, at all costs, falling asleep in the sun.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends avoiding sunlamps, sun beds, and tanning parlors since these use UV radiation which may damage the skin.

In addition to all of the above, if you develop a mole, a freckle, or a spot that you are concerned about, do not hesitate to see your doctor. Protecting yourself from sun exposure is something only you can control.