Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can damage skin cells.
Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. In the continental United States, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time).
How can you protect your skin from the sun?
- Wear sunscreen. According to the American Cancer Society, it’s best to use sunscreen with broad spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays) and with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 30 or higher. Remember to reapply every 2 hours, and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
- Hint: Sunscreen expires so check the date! Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than 3 years. Its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
- Stay in the shade as much as possible between 10am and 4pm.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts.
- When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts, pants or long skirts, and a wide-brimmed hat. Ask about sun-protective clothing if you work outdoors.
- It’s also important to avoid tanning beds, booths, sunlamps, and other artificial sources of UV radiation.