Best Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Sun

The sun provides warmth and helps plants grow, but it can also be harmful to your skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common cancer in the United States is skin cancer. Additionally, overexposure to the sun can cause damage to the skin including uneven pigmentation and premature aging of the skin. To minimize the dangerous effects of the sun, it is important to protect your skin from the sun daily.

There are many ways to protect your skin from the sun, including staying covered, wearing sunscreen, and spending as much time in the shade as possible. One of the easiest ways to protect your skin from the sun is to wear clothes that cover your most of your skin. In the summer months, you can benefit from clothes made specifically for providing protection from the sun. These clothes would be especially useful if you will be outdoors for an extended period of time. Don’t forget about you head and your eyes, and be sure to wear a hat or sun glasses to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun.

Secondly, you can protect your skin by wearing sunscreen, not just at the beach either. A moisturizer that includes a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunscreen is not just for the hot summer months and sunny days. Even in the winter or on cloudy rays, UV rays can cause damage to your skin, so its important to use sunscreen every day of the year for the most protection. Finally, when selecting a sunscreen, be sure to choose one with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 or greater. Remember to reapply sunscreen often and especially after sweating, swimming, or being outdoors for more than two hours.

Finally, stay out of the sun’s rays during the hottest times of the day and grab some shade to enjoy the outdoors without damaging your skin. Avoid direct sunlight during the midday when the sun is hottest. If you are in an area with little shade, bring an umbrella to help shield yourself.

Taking care of your skin is a part of staying healthy, so be sure to protect yourself from skin damage by using these suggestions. Make it a daily habit, and taking care of your skin will become second nature.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/SkinCancer/