Many family traditions
include a yearly visit to the beach. Tucked away in our memories are
the smell of coconut oil, the warmth of the sun and sand mixed with
cool beach breezes.
However, gone are the
days of baby oil and metal sun reflectors, replaced with safer sun
practices to preserve our natural skin color and condition. Sun
protection comes in a variety of options to include sunscreen,
sunglasses, sun hats, sun protective swimwear and cover-ups.
An important part of
your beach planning will be your sun protection. Sun tanning and
trips to your local tanning salon aren’t the best idea anymore.
That’s because both emit harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that
can cause painful sunburn and may eventually lead to skin blemishes,
premature aging of the skin, cataracts and other eye problems,
weakened immune system and skin cancer. And if the Earth’s ozone
layer continues to deplete and the approximate rate of four to six
percent per decade there will be more UV radiation reaching our
skin.
It is true that light
skin is more susceptible to sun damage, however darker skinned
people such as African Americans and Hispanic Americans can be
affected. Everyone should be educated about the affects of the sun
and the steps needed to safer sun exposure.
The easiest way to
protect you from the sun is simply by avoiding the sun; the sun’s
rays are strongest between 10am and 3pm. Cloudy days may be
deceiving as the clouds only block about twenty percent of UV
radiation, this is also true when swimming in the water (the UV rays
can still reach you).
If you are going to be
out in the sun in your bikinis or swimsuits, either sunscreen or
sunblock should be used. Both sunscreen and sunblock come in creams,
lotions, ointments, gels or wax sticks, and when applied to the skin
will reflect, absorb or scatter either all or at least some of the
sun’s harmful rays. Currently on the market are some makeup items
containing sunscreen (lipstick being one example). Sunscreen
products are believed to block a large percentage of harmful UV
radiation.
The FDA requires that
any label of sunscreen products state the sun protection factor
(SPF), the higher the number the longer a person is able to stay in
the sun before burning. It is recommended to wear at least a
sunscreen with SPF 15, the product should also be applied liberally
15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. The sunscreen should be
applied to all areas of skin that will be exposed to include; lips,
ears, eyelids (be careful not to get in eyes), neck, nose, scalp
(for those with thinning hair), feet, and hands. Children under 6
months should not wear sunscreen (covering their skin is the best
bet against sun exposure), as they might be too sensitive to the
ingredients. Sunscreen should become a regular habit for children
whenever going outdoors.
Sunglasses are a very
important part of sun protection. Not only do sunglasses help us see
in the glaring sun, but also protect our eyes from sun damage. Price
doesn’t matter as long as the glasses are blocking ninety-nine to
one hundred percent of UVA and UVB radiation (it should say on the
label). Try and select sunglasses that protect your eyes from all
angles, a large framed wraparound style is suggested. Don’t forget
to put sunglasses on your children as well; they can start wearing
sunglasses as early as one year old. It is important to purchase
real protective sunglasses for children, not toy sunglasses.
Even if you’re wearing
sunglasses you might want to put some sunscreen on your eyelids (be
careful not to get the sunscreen in you’re eyes), as the
sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays not the skin around the
eyes.
Hats are an easy and
fashionable ways to protect you’re eyes, ears, nose, neck and
scalp from the sun. Try and purchase a hat with a three- inch brim
all the way around the hat if possible. There are such a wide
variety of hats available in styles ranging from lovely straw hats
with wide brims, to cotton hats with brims and baseball caps (some
with material draping down the sides and back if desired).
Another popular form of
sun protection is available in the sun protective swimwear and
cover-ups. This swimwear covers the areas of the body most sensitive
to sunburn, giving effective sun protection. The swimwear comes in
styles similar to a t-shirt with adjoining shorts, and is a great
idea especially for children. The swimwear and cover-ups boast a SPF
50 (highest rating for fabric) and most often offers approximately
ninety-eight percent sunblock, the nylon-lycra mix is lightweight
and fast- drying. There are also sunsuits combined with buoyancy
aids (another great idea for children). The sun protective swimwear,
t-shirts, cover-ups and hats are available in babies, children and
adult sizes. Although the protective swimwear is quite popular it
has yet to be approved by the FDA.
Cover-ups should be worn
whenever possible if out in the sun. A cover-up can include any
lightweight, loose-fitting, long sleeved shirts, skirts, pants or
robes that provide protection from the sun. There are toweling robes
manufactured that serve both as a towel and a cover-up after
swimming. Almost all materials and colors absorb or reflect the sun’s
harmful UV rays. However it must be noted that it is suggested to
avoid wearing wet clothing in the sun, as the sun’s rays can much
more easily pass through wet clothing.
It is important to avoid
artificial tanning as much as possible. It has long been a belief
that the ultraviolet (UV) rays from tanning beds are harmless as
they emit mostly UVA rays and barely any UVB the rays considered to
be most hazardous. However it has been found that UVA rays may be
the cause of the most serious forms of skin cancer (melanoma). This
is scary considering some people use the tanning beds all year long,
thus increasing their exposure to the harmful rays at an alarming
rate.
An alternative to a real
tan may come in one of the self-tanning products available on the
market. Self-tanning products are sold in tanning pills, sunless
tanning lotions and sprays, cosmetic bronzers and extenders and
tanning pills. Through a bit of trial and error you can usually find
a product that will produce a desired look from a subtle glow to a
deep dark tan. Caution should also be exercised with these
self-tanning products. In particular the tanning pills that use
carotenoid color additives which are approved as additives for
coloring food but not for use in tanning pills, if consumed in high
levels they may be harmful. The tanning accelerators using tyrosine
have not been FDA approved and should also be used minimally. The
bronzers and extenders use color additives that are approved by the
FDA and because they wash or wear off quite quickly are quite safe.
Although it’s important to practice caution while being out and
about in the sun, your day at the beach or lake can still be a
wonderful experience. We just have to take a more careful approach
to our sun seeking ways to ensure our future health.
So pack away your
coconut oil and reflectors, replacing them with sunscreen and great
sun protective hats and cover-ups.
