- Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside, even when it is not sunny, and reapply every couple of hours.
- Avoid being in direct sunlight for too long, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV rays are the strongest.
- Wear a hat to protect areas that are often overexposed to intense sunlight, such as ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. For inexpensive additional protection, wear a large handkerchief or bandana under a baseball cap.
- Wear sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB Rays. Look for labels that say “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements.” Fashion sunglasses only block about 70% of UV rays and those without a label probably do not provide any UV protection.
Always protect yourself from harmful UV rays!
Go enjoy your favorite summer activities, but remember to protect your skin with these sun safety tips!
Test your knowledge with this sun safety quiz from the American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/quizzes/sun-safety/index
American Cancer Society. (2015, March 20). Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/SunandUVExposure/SkinCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/skin-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-u-v-protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2006). The Burning Facts. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/sunscreen.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2015, October 26). Action Steps for Sun Safety. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/action-steps-sun-safety
Written by: Angela DoPhiladelphia Ujima Graduate Student Intern