When the sun is out and the air is warm, there is nothing better to do than go play outside. But even on such a beautiful day, there are dangers in the sky—literally. It is important for your health that you take care of your skin both during the summer and the winter.
Sun damage (sun spots, uneven skin tone, burns etc.) comes from the ultraviolet (UV) rays that the sun beams down onto our bodies. Although it’s easy to associate sun safety with the summer when the sun is hot and bright, but it is just as important to use sunblock during the rest of the year—even winter. Winter months can be sunny—or at least have sunny days—and it’s just as important to put sun lotion on your face when you’re shovelling the driveway as it is when you’re heading out to the beach. Sun rays can also reach us through clouds! Sunburns are possible on cloudy days.
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It may seem luxurious to sit and bask in the sun all day awaiting a tan, but truth of the matter is we risk damage to our skin—the body’s most vital organ—every time we go out unprotected. Not only can too much sun give us heat stroke, making us feel nauseous and dizzy, but it is also a main cause of skin cancer. Any person of any age is susceptible to skin cancer, even children and teens.
There is no data tracking the number of children with melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. However, doctors have said that three percent of children and 6 percent of adolescents (ages 15-19) with cancer have melanoma.
To keep your skin safe, use at least an SPF 15 lotion before you go outside to protect your skin in the winter and off-season months. In the summer, you may want to consider using a higher SPF. The type of sun lotion you use will also depend on your skin type (fair skinned people usually need to use a higher SPF lotion). Don’t forget your ears, and use an SPF lip balm because you can get a sunburn on your lips!
Featured image Matusciac Alexandru / Shutterstock
