UV Radiation and Skin Health

How to protect your skin from the sun

Shade

A great way to reduce your exposure to UV rays is to seek shade or shelter from an umbrella or tree at the park. However, UV rays can be reflected from nearby surfacess such as building, windows, sand and snow. So the key to better protection is a combination of methods like clothing and sunscreen.

A common feeling when people are driving down the highway is the slight burn on the arm or one side of the face. The sun’s harmful rays are shining into the car from all sorts of angles depending on which direction you’re travelling and what time of day. A great way to protect your passengers is to get a car sun shade like a Snap Shade, which offers complete coverage of the window and is laboratory stested to block up to 84% UVA/UVB. 

Clothing

There is hardly better protection than a physical barrier like long sleeve clothing that is made from tightly woven fabric. Look out for clothing that are UPF rated, which have been lab tested to reduce transmission of UV rays. A minimum rating of UPF 30 is recommended by the skin cancer foundation

Hat

A hat is a great addition to your sunny day out or a short 15 minute walk. You should find one that protects the whole of your face especially the extremeities like your ears, neck and nose. Therefore a wide brimmed hat is the best for protection compared a baseball cap, where your ears and neck are exposed. Sunscreen should always be applied!

Sun glasses

The protection offered by sun glasses are often undervalue and is mostly seen as reducing glare and brightness from the sun. Sun glasses do so much more than that, it actually prevents formation of cataracts. When you develop a cataract, the natural lens in your eye is damaged, it becomes thick and cloudy, preventing light from passing through and hence your vision becomes unclear. Sign of cataract include white milkiness/cloudiness in the eye and impaired vision.

Choose a pair of sunglasses where the lense provides 100% UVA and UVB protection. Not all lenses are made equal.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be applied by everyone when going outside. Especially on days where UV is high, which particularly occurs when it’s cloudy. It is recommended to choose the right SPF rating for the right activity and reapplied every 2 hours. 

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