Here Comes the Sun!

Warmer weather is finally here and we will be lacing up those shoes for the upcoming Corporate Walking Program!

As our days get longer, it's a great time of the year to remind everyone to protect yourself from the beautiful golden rays of sun! 

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use sunscreen that offers the following:

• Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays).

• Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or greater.

• Water resistance.

• Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours or as indicated on the label, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.  

• Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

• Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.³

• Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.

• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.⁴

• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

• Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

A sunscreen that offers the above helps to protect your skin from sunburn, early skin aging,² and skin cancer. However, sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. To protect your skin and find skin cancer early, dermatologists recommend the following: