It's October and while Summer is over, the sun still shines. Sun exposure is good for us as it is a natural source of Vitamin D. Too much of anything though is not good and that definitely includes sun exposure. Whenever you are exposed to the sun you need to take precautions to protect yourself. In this article I will cover some of the ways to protect yourself in order to aid in the prevention of skin cancer.
Our skin, I've read, is our largest organ. Most of us do not think of it in this way, but if we did we would realize that we need to look after it just as we would our heart, liver or kidneys. We must protect our skin from environmental damage. If you do not protect your skin from sun, wind and environmental pollutants, chances are that, at the least, you will experience premature aging of your skin, or worse, skin cancer.
During the winter months many of us go outdoors to ski or have fun in the snow. You must remember that the sun and wind can still cause damage to your skin during Winter so it is vital to use skin protection.
UVA and UVB rays can be extremely harmful and can also cause skin cancer. You need to make sure that any protective clothing or sunscreens you use protect from both of these.
Here are some tips to help protect you from skin damage;
1.Do not overdo sun exposure. Experts say that this is particularly important during the hottest part of the day between 11 am and 3 pm when the sun is at maximum strength. Always wear sun protection even if simply gardening for an hour or doing any outdoor activity during these times of day.
2.Dress to protect- Again, experts suggest that a wide brimmed hat, in combination with cool, light colored clothing can help to prevent over exposure. Sunglasses with UV protection are recommended to protect your eyes. Many do not even think of their eyes as needing protection but they do.
3.Use a sun block with SPF 15 or higher. Do not forget your lips to prevent burning, and chapped lips. I once read that going in the sun without any lip protection is like kissing a hot light bulb. Remember above when I said that our skin is our largest organ? I've also read that we should not put anything on our skin that we would not be willing to put into our mouth so I highly recommend that you do not use any of the regular sunscreens, but instead buy organic sunscreens. They are definitely more expensive but, in my opinion, well worth it.
I hope you heed these straightforward but very important facts as tips to protect yourself and help prevent you or any of your loved ones ever getting skin cancer.
