Sun Safety

It’s natural to want to get out in the sun during any warm days. It should also be second nature to take steps to protect your skin from the sun when you go outside. Too much exposure can also cause sunburn, eye damage, and premature wrinkles. But shielding your skin with clothing, broadspectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and staying in the shade can help lower your risk.

Re-apply at least every 2 hours, as well as after swimming or sweating.

When you are out in the sun, wear clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV light.

While you should use sunscreen every day of the year, it’s even more important during the summer, when the days are longer, the sun is stronger, and it’s easier to spend more time outdoors. All sunscreen products protect against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn. But UVA rays also contribute to skin cancer and premature aging. Only products that pass a test can be labelled “broad spectrum.” Products that aren’t broad spectrum must carry a warning that they only protect against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging.

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays. Higher SPF numbers do mean more protection, but the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%; SPF 50 sunscreens filter about 98%, and SPF 100 filter about 99%. No sunscreen protects you completely.

“Water resistant” does not mean “waterproof.” No sunscreens are waterproof or “sweatproof,” and manufacturers are not allowed to claim that they are.

For best results, reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. Sunscreen usually rubs off when you towel yourself dry, so you will need to put more on.

Teaching kids to be sun smart is one health habit you can’t ignore. Research suggests most of the sun damage occurs before the age of 18 and because skin cancer is largely preventable. Teach them to slip on sun-protective clothing.

Get them to slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen is broad-spectrum and water-resistant, and don’t use sunscreen to increase the amount of time you spend in the sun and always use with other forms of protection too.

Apply sunscreen liberally to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside and reapply every two hours. Make sure they wear a hat. Encourage them to seek shade. Remind them to use sunglasses.

Check your skin regularly for any unusual skin changes. If you have a lesion that doesn’t heal or a mole that has suddenly appeared, changed in size, thickness, shape, colour or has started to bleed, see your doctor immediately. Treatment is more likely to be successful if skin cancer is discovered early.