Protecting Your Skin from the Sun
The sun that hits your skin comprises about 95% UVA rays and 5% UVB rays. If you’ve ever spoken with a skincare expert, you might have heard, “A for aging; B for burning.” Unfortunately, that’s an accurate description of the damaging effects the sun’s rays have on our skin. This damage can cause skin cancer, particularly if you were exposed repeatedly in your younger years. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from skin cancer and other sun damage while still enjoying the outdoors.
What do UVA rays do to your skin?
UVA rays penetrate deep into your skin and damage your genetic material, causing premature aging. This damage can show up in the form of wrinkles, sagginess, sunspots or age spots, uneven texture, broken capillaries, and other redness and blotchiness. It’s called “photoaging,” and it happens because the UVA radiation damages skin cell structures, like collagen and elastin fibers. The damage occurs deep within the skin and may not be visible for several years after the sun damage occurs.
What do UVB rays do to your skin?
You might think UVB rays are negligible because they only make up 5% of the light that reaches us, but UVB rays can do considerable damage. They have higher energy levels than UVA and tend to damage the outer layers of skin, causing burns. UVB also damages your DNA and is the cause of most skin cancers. Even without burning, every unprotected exposure to UVB you have increases your risk of developing skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States and the one responsible for the most cancer mortalities.
How can you protect your skin from the sun?
The treatments for sun damage and skin cancer are effective to an extent but can be disappointing in many cases. The best way to deal with sun damage is proactively. Protect your skin from the sun every day and take particular care when you have to spend extended time in direct sunlight. Visit your primary care physician regularly and talk about skincare, especially if you have any concerns or a history of sunburns.
Use the appropriate sunscreen and follow label instructions.
Many people think they’re protected because they put on a moisturizer with SPF in the morning. The reality is that those moisturizers typically don’t have a high enough SPF to protect you, and they don’t work all day. Your minimum for everyday sun protection should be SPF 30. If you wear makeup, you can increase your protection with a sunscreen moisturizer, sunscreen foundation, and sunscreen powder. If you’re spending the day in the sun, you need at least SPF 50 broad spectrum, and you should reapply it every four hours or any time you get wet.
Wear breathable, light-colored, long-sleeve clothing.
You can use clothing to protect large areas of your body, like your arms and legs. Use a cap for your head and dress in lightweight, long-sleeve and long-pant clothes with a tight weave that blocks the maximum amount of sunlight. Lighter colors absorb less light and heat, so they can help you stay cool in warm weather.
Stay in the shade as much as possible.
Getting out of direct sunlight is one of the best ways to reduce damage to your skin cells from both UVA and UVB rays. However, it’s important to remember that light bends around corners, which is why you can still see in the shade, so continue wearing your sunscreen and protective clothing while you’re under the tree, umbrella, or hat.
Don’t use tanning beds or tanning oils.
Tanning beds typically use UVA rays to tan your skin while minimizing burn, but UVA contributes heavily to aging and to your risk of developing skin cancer as well. If you like a darker look, there are plenty of self-tanners today that create a long-lasting and realistic bronze glow.
Get examined by a primary care provider regularly.
You won’t be able to eliminate your sun exposure, and chances are you’ve experienced a sunburn before. Make sure you’re visiting your primary care provider regularly and being examined for changes in your skin. Primary care in Laurel, MD, can advise you on your risk factors and the best way to protect yourself in the future.