From www.healthline.com/health/directory-awareness-months
Summer has arrived and while the sun is shining bright it’s a good time to highlight that July is UV Safety Awareness Month!
We all love to take in those warm summer rays, but it’s important to protect our skin and eyes from the damaging effects of the sun.
The sun emits radiation known as Ultraviolet A (UV-A) and Ultraviolet B (UV-B). Both types can damage your eyes and skin:
- UV-B rays have short wavelengths that reach the outer layer of your skin
- UV-A rays have longer wavelengths that can penetrate the middle layer of your skin
Here are the harmful things unprotected sun exposure can do:
- Cause vision problems and damage to your eyes
- Suppression of the immune system
- Premature aging of the skin
- Skin cancer
To minimize the risk that comes with sun exposure:
- Cover Up: Wear a hat (preferably a wide brim) or other shade-protective clothing can partly shield your skin from the harmful effects of UV ray exposure. Proper clothing may include long sleeve shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses (for eye protection).
- Stay in the Shade: The sun’s glare is most intense at midday. Staying in the shade between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm will further protect your skin. The sun can still damage your skin on cloudy days or in the winter. For this reason, it is important to stay protected throughout the year.
- Choose the Right Sunscreen: This is extremely important. The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new regulations for sunscreen labeling recommend that your sunscreen have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and should protect against both UV-A and UV-B rays.
- Use the Right Amount of Sunscreen: According to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, most people apply only 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. When out in the sun, it’s important that you apply at least one ounce (a palm-full) of sunscreen every two hours. You should apply it more often if you are sweating or swimming, even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
