Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Sun ?

Safe in the Sun

Living your normal everyday life means that you can’t avoid exposing your skin to the sun. Repeated sun exposure adds up over the years and puts you at risk for skin cancer. So protecting your skin from the sun is important year round, even on cloudy days. But using sunscreen is not enough because no sunscreen—no matter how high the SPF—can provide 100% protection. That’s why you need a combination of sun protection measures.

Use Sunscreen

Your skin is exposed to the sun every day, so sunscreen isn’t just for the beach. Use a daily broad-spectrum—blocking UVA and UVB rays—sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on all exposed areas. And choose cosmetics and lip balms with SPF. For beach days, use water-resistant sunscreens with higher SPFs. Remember to apply sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapply every few hours and even more frequently after swimming or sweating, and check the expiration date. 

Cover Up

In the water, consider wearing a rash guard instead of a t-shirt. Wet t-shirts offer far less UV protection than dry ones.If you aren’t in the water, cover up with loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. And check clothing labels for UPF information. You want materials with a UPF of at least 30.

Sport Sunglasses

Sun exposure can lead to cataracts and damage the delicate skin around your eyes. Sunglasses will do double duty by protecting your vision and your skin. For sunglasses, darker doesn’t necessarily mean better protection. Dark tints only reduce the intensity of the nontoxic visible light with no blockage of the invisible UV rays. Larger frames or wrap-around glasses provide the best protection.

Sources of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for your health and for strong bones. Your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun. But the sun is not the only source of vitamin D. You can also find it naturally in fatty fish—tuna, swordfish and salmon—and in fortified foods, such as milk, cereal, yogurt, and orange juice.

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