How To Protect Your Skin From The Sun

US FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) Guidelines For Sun Protection 

Seek Shade

• You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside, even when you’re in the shade.

Do Not Burn

• The two main causes of skin cancer and skin sunburn's like lesions are the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and the use of UV tanning beds
• Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer

Avoid Tanning Beds

• Tanning beds are NOT safer than the sun

• Science tells us that there’s no such thing as a safe tanning bed, tanning booth, or sun lamp

• Just one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of developing skin cancer (melanoma by 20%, squamous cell carcinoma by 67%, and basal cell carcinoma by 29%)

Cover Up

• Clothing can provide a great barrier against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays

• Its protection is consistent over time and does not wear off like sunscreen does

• Many new fabrics, As Miami Beach Body's offer high-tech protection and breathability, too
• The more skin you cover (high neck, long sleeves, pants), the better
• To use a hat with a wide brim all the way around (three inches or more) is best because it helps shade your eyes, ears, face and neck.
• Also wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and the skin around them.
• Any clothing leaves some skin exposed, so you need sunscreen, too. Do not forget to apply it to your hands, lips, ears and nose, especially after washing them

Use Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

• Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides broad-spectrum coverage

• Apply sunscreen before going outdoors

• Apply enough sunscreen. Most adults need about 1 ounce to fully cover their body

• Apply sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing. Remember your neck, face, ears, tops of your feet and legs

• If you have thinning hair, either apply sunscreen to your scalp or wear a wide‐brimmed hat

• To protect your lips, apply a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15

• To remain protected when outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating

Apply 1 Ounce of Sunscreen

• It’s important to consider which parts of your body will be exposed to the sun when you apply or reapply sunscreen
•  For your face, the equivalent of two full finger lengths is enough to cover it
• Do not forget the tops of your ears, and more easily-missed spots like just above your cheekbones, or the sides of your face
• Most adults need about 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — to fully cover their body. Rub the sunscreen thoroughly into your skin
•  It’s better to be generous, as not applying enough sunscreen and spreading it thinly means the amount of protection the sunscreen offers will be reduced

Keep Newborns Out Of The Sun

• infants under 6 month of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Avoid using sunscreen on them. Baby's young skin doesn't have the ability to metabolize and excrete the chemicals often found in sunscreens
• Dress your baby regularly with a brimmed hat
• Car rides can lead to unintended sun exposure, too. While glass screens out most UVB rays, the chief cause of sunburn, UVA rays can penetrate windows. Like UVB rays, UVA rays damage DNA and can lead to skin cancer.
• Once your baby reaches 6 months of age, it’s time to introduce sunscreens. Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that offers a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Look at the active ingredients; Zinc oxide an titanium dioxide are good choices, because these physical filters don’t rely on absorption of chemicals and are less apt to cause a skin reaction. You may want to test sunscreen on the inside of your baby’s wrist. If the child has a little irritation, try another sunscreen. Continue to cover your baby with a hat and protective clothing

Examine Your Skin

• The world’s most common cancer is Skin Cancer, a relentless disease that strikes one in five people by age 70. The good news is that 99 percent of all cases are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early enough. But in order to stop skin cancer, we have to spot it on time
• Skin cancer is the cancer you can see. Unlike cancers that develop inside the body, skin cancers form on the outside and are usually visible. That’s why skin exams, both at home and with a dermatologist, are especially vital
• Examine your skin once a month
• .Learn about the warning signs of skin cancer and know what to look for during a self-exam
• If you see something NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL, get checked by a dermatologist right away. It could be skin cancer. This includes:
• A growth that increases in size and appears pearly, transparent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored.
• A mole, birthmark or brown spot that increases in size, thickness, changes color or texture, or is bigger than a pencil eraser. Learn the ABCDEs of melanoma
• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or bleed.
• An open sore that does not heal within three weeks.

Visit Your Physician Every Year

• Get a full-body, professional skin exam once a year or more often if you are at higher risk for skin cancer
• If you’ve never had atypical moles or skin cancer, the exam will likely be brief (about 10 minutes)
• To help you prepare and make the most of your appointment, follow these five simple steps:
• Perform a self-exam and come to your appointment prepared with notes of any new, changing or unusual spots you want to point out to your dermatologist
• Remove nail polish from your fingers and toes to enable thorough examination of fingers, nails and nail beds, since skin cancers can form there
• Wear your hair loose. Remove ponytails, buns or hair clips, so that your doctor can get a good look at your scalp where skin cancers can, and do, develop
• Pack makeup remover to bring to your appointment and remove any makeup before your exam so that the skin around your eyes is easy to examine
• Ask Questions, this is your opportunity to get valuable advice and insight from a professional trained specifically in diseases of the skin

Be Careful Around Snow, Sand and Water

• 85 percent of sunlight can reflect off of sand, concrete, water, and snow
• The sun can cause permanent damage to our skin at any time of the year
• UV radiation from the sun can cause skin damage, even on cloudy days
• Snow. as well as sand and  water reflect the sun’s rays, and the higher altitude of ski resorts means increased intensity of UV radiation
• In snow conditions it is best to take extra precautions and protect skin from the winds and winter sun

Limit Time Under The Sun

• You must plan your time in the Sun strategically, knowing that the sun is at its highest intensity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Fair-skinned people shouldn't stay outside without protection for more than 10 to 12 minutes, Those with darker skins can spend 50 to 60 minutes catching rays, but no more
• Practice the Shadow Rule: If your Shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are at their strongest

Beware of Medicines Interactions With The Sun

• Many medications can amplify the sun's effects. Some medications can make people more sensitive to the sun, especially if they have light skin or blue eyes
• Some drugs contain compounds that, when activated by the sun's ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation, can damage cell membranes and, in some instances, DNA
• The result can be a severe, blistering sunburn on the exposed parts of the body
• Less frequently, drugs may trigger an allergic reaction to sun exposure, producing a rash that can cover the entire body
• Certain medications make it more difficult to withstand the heat, increasing the risk of sunstroke
• The following categories of drugs are particularly likely to increase your sensitivity to the sun's effects:
• Antibiotics, cancer drugs, Decongestant and older antihistaminic, Diabetic medications, Diuretics, Cardiovascular medications, Hormones, Drugs for skin conditions, Pain relievers, Psychiatry drugs
• Always ask your Doctor or Pharmacist if any drugs you take might make you more sensitive to sunlight or heat