We all love to be outside on sunny days, especially during the summer. You can enjoy being out in the sun and still protect yourself and your family against sun damage and skin cancer by following these simple steps:
- Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
- Wear sunglasses.
- Wear a large-brimmed hat.
- Seek shaded areas.
- Avoid indoor and outdoor tanning.
Wearing protective clothing is also a good way to protect your skin. Dark fabrics, tightly-woven fabrics and ones that cover most of your skin can block some of the sun’s harmful rays. Also, look for clothing that contains ultra-violet protection (UVP) labels. These labels indicate the amount of protection the clothing provides.
The Skin Cancer Foundation has a variety of sun-protection product suggestions including clothing, laundry additives, cosmetics and umbrellas. You can also learn about ways to protect yourself and your family from sun damage from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
