Sun protection
Protecting your skin from the sun is important because the sun emits ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Over time, UVR exposure causes many changes in the skin, including wrinkles, discolouration, age spots, benign (non-cancerous) growths, and pre-cancerous and cancerous growths. In fact, most skin cancers are related to sun exposure.
UVR consists of two main subtypes: UVB and UVA. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and tanning. UVA rays are believed to be responsible for photoaging (the damage that occurs to the skin from many years of exposure to the sun). Both types have been linked to cancer.
Most sunscreen products prevent sunburns by blocking UVB rays. Newer sunscreen products are also successful in blocking UVA rays. For that reason, sun protection recommendations emphasize certain behaviours, as well as the use of sunscreens. The recommendations include:
- Avoiding midday sun (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.).
- Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and pants.
- Using a generous amount of sunscreen and reapplying it frequently (every 2 to 3 hours).
- Using sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 30, and have UVA and UVB coverage.
- Avoiding tanning beds (tanning beds are now considered a carcinogen, capable of causing cancer).
