“Plan For Skin Protection”
Why Protect Your Skin From The Sun? What is a sun protection plan that will work for you? Have you considered how to protect your skin from the sun? Are you aware that protecting your skin from too much sun is important?
Sun Protection For Your Skin
Why protect your skin from the sun in today’s lowered Ozone world? Is protecting your skin on your “to do” list. A project for later?
If you understand how you can protect your skin, don’t you think it will be easier to be aware of the ways you can keep your skin healthy?
Sun protection every day is important. A plan to make sure that you are protecting your skin can help. Does your plan keep your skin safe when you are out in the sun? Do you apply sunscreen? Do you wear sun block clothing? It is as simple as that.
Yes, the sun does encourage life.
Then you add the fact that it feels good on your skin. However, relaxing or having fun in the warm sun for too long can cause some serious skin damage.
Just like tender young plants we have to protect ourselves from too much sun. You must be responsible for yourself, and your family if you are a parent.
Do you have a plan for protecting your skin when you are in the sun?
The Truth About Why You Need To Protect Your Skin From The Sun
The sun can be your skin’s worst enemy. Did you know that every sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer?
We are not talking about just those big days at the beach or 6 Flags Over Texas that cause trouble.
Every time you walk out to the mailbox or visit over the fence with your neighbors. Yes, you are getting sun! That commute to work without your basic sun protection adds to the damage. All these little exposures can lead to skin cancer.
Don’t forget about the early ageing thing, the one that causes leathery skin. Those dark spots, and wrinkles that you are beginning to see in the mirror. I am sorry, but that may not all be from a cheap mirror reflection!
Protecting Your Skin From The Sun Dangers
First, there is the bad news-
There is not a magic button to push and get protection when you are in the sun.
The good news? Awareness can work similarly to a magic button. When you are aware, you can plug some of the gaps in your skin’s protection from the sun. Be aware of when you are in the sun.
That’s why this roundup of advice is being presented to you. The best path to younger, healthy skin is to adopt as many of these suggestions as possible into your lifestyle. Make them daily habits everywhere you go, all year long, not just in the stronger sun rays of summertime.
It is true you will sunburn more easily in the hot summertime, but it can happen in the wintertime as well Awareness of how you are in the sun is the key to keeping your skin healthy. Keep it from looking older than it should.
Sun Block Clothing Is Important To Help Protect Your Skin From The Sun
Sun blocking clothing can provide a barrier between your skin and the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Having clothing between you and the sun keeps the protection consistent all day. Nor does it wear off as sunscreen will.
Many newer fabrics can offer high-tech protection and comfort too. Just remember, the more skin you cover, (high neck, long sleeves, pants), the better you are protected.
A hat with s wide brim. 3 ” or wider is best because it helps shade your eyes, ears, face, as well as your neck.
Next, you should always wear your UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and the skin around them. Over-sized lens or wraparound styles are better.
What Does UFP Mean?
Have you wondered what UPF means? The UPF rating, which measures for ultraviolet protection factor, will be found on labels for clothing, hats, and fabrics.
The number tells you what fraction of the sun’s UV rays can go through the fabric.
A shirt that has a label of UPF 50, for example, allows just 1/50th of the UV radiation to reach your skin. This is the highest number allowed for rating sun blocking ability of the fabric.
And of course, there are a few things to make yourself aware of. Any item of clothing will leave some of your skin exposed.
This means that you will need some sunscreen, too. Don’t forget to reapply it to your hands, especially after washing them.
With a wide brimmed sun hat, your sunglasses and a sun blocking shirt, as well as your sunscreen to go on the exposed areas you are better protected.
You should be able to enjoy some sun and keep your skin safe, and your kid’s skin safe without excessive sunscreen application. The layers of sun safety add up. Keep yourself aware, and use what you have to stay safe. Keep your skin healthy.
Safer Outside Times
Make a habit of playing in the shade when possible. Your kids need to learn this as well.
Shade is your refuge, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM, the peak hours for summer sun intensity. This is true for the winter months as well. Sunburn is not just a summertime injury.
Make a point to walk on the shady side of the street. When you sit, choose to sit under an awning or sun-protective umbrella, when you can.
Choose the covered porch at a pool party, or even under a tree for your breaks. This is a great habit and one I am personally working on. I just haven’t given it enough thought yet for this to be a habit.
To keep in mind:
Shade does not offer a “perfect shield” for your skin from the sun. Some UV rays may still reach your skin. They can pass through leaves and branches. Damaging sun rays can sneak up on you from the side or by becoming reflections.
The sun reflects very dangerously from the water, from cement, or sand or snow. Choose your seat in the boat carefully. Even glass can work against you in your efforts to protect your skin from the sun.
Sunscreen To Protect Your Skin From The Sun
When you are choosing your sunscreens there are many things to consider. Do you prefer a sport spray or an easy to use stick? There are creamy formulas and squeeze bottles and tubes.
Most of us use a product that we have chosen through trial and error.
The words “broad spectrum” on a label indicate that the sunscreen contains ingredients that effectively protect against UVA rays as well as UVB. This is your anti-ageing defence and we definately need that, at any age.
SPF stands for sun protection factor. Use the number to know how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to redden your skin. (measurement helps you to know how long you have as compared to bare skin in the sun.)
When you use an SPF 15 product exactly as directed (applied generously and evenly, and reapply after two hours or after sweating or swimming), it would take you 15 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.
I personally will start to redden in about 10 minutes. With an SPF of 30, I can last about 40 minutes before my face is showing definite signs of too much sun. That is not in line with the formula. It is just how my skin reacts.
If I stayed out in the sun with no sunscreen I would have a face full of fresh freckles to go with what is already there.
Have you taken time to find out what works for you?
Babies And Sun Protection for their skin.
Exposing your little ones to the direct sunshine is a careless and dangerous act. They have not completed their skin development. Putting sunscreen on babies before their bodies have mature enough skin to filter out the dangeous chemicals is not safe. (Sunscreen Chemical Buildup In Your Body will explain how the chemicals work.)
Sunburn is especially damaging for infants who are still maturing their skin. They may not be able to heal the damage by sunburn. Be extra cautious.
These little ones need sun blocking clothing to help keep them safe if they have to be out. If under 6 months old, babies should be kept in the house out of direct sunlight.
Best practice for the first six months of your babies life? Keep infants out of the sun rather than use sunscreen on their sensitive skin.
Clothing should always be the first go-to for protecting your baby’s vulnerable arms and legs. Don’t forget to use hats, sunglasses and stroller sun shades.
In addition to providing a protective hat and clothing, safe practices to protect their skin can include applying sunscreen to children after they reach 12 months of age.
Talk to caregivers in advance about sun protection. Grandparents can even benefit from a bit of heads up warning about sun exposure.
Don’t Over Look Sun Dangers Through Windows
Glass does block UVB rays fairly well, however, some UVA rays will pass through. This is true of your windows at home as well as in your vehicle.
Your car windshields are treated to shield drivers from most UVA rays. Side, back and sunroof windows usually are not.
A good safe practice when you’re in your car? Protect yourself and your family with hats, clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, whatever it takes.
Another option is to have UV-protective window film applied to windows, in your car or at home. In our high sun states, this is an especially effective way to protect your skin and that of your family as well. Sun shields are available. Use them to protect your skin.
The windows on our forms of mass transportation, the airplanes, trains, and buses also allow those UVA rays to pass right through. So if you travel with these forms of transportation, be especially careful and protect your skin with sunscreen.
Airline pilots, crew members, and even frequent travellers may get more skin cancers than other people. Talk to truck drivers about skin cancer. Their experiences may surprise you.
It is important to plan when travelling. Apply sunscreen or wear sun protective clothing when travelling. You could be exposed more while travelling than in more risky fun situations. Think about your day. What do you need”
Sami’s Take “On Why Protect Your Skin From The Sun”
Are you trying to enjoy fun in the sun and still taking care of your skin? Keeping my skin safe from skin cancer is more important than pushing for too much sun.
Learning to change old bad habits that make your skin age is important for a healthier life. Skin cancer is very real and with the disappearing Ozone layer, we are losing even that protection.
Learning to think about having what your family needs with you to stay safe in the sun is a responsibility. However, once learned won’t affect your fun in the sun at all.
Will you start earlier helping your family develop good sun blocking practices? Awareness of how you can help protect their skin will help get you started in the right direction.