We all love a sunny day. A beautiful day out in the sun is the best opportunity to get a tan, wear summer clothes, and treat yourselves to tasty ice creams and cold beverages.

But, being out in the sun may not always give you the deserved results. While moderate exposure can supply you with a good dose of vitamin D, spending hours outside can cause damage. Not only does it speed up the aging process but also contributes to skin cancer.

Studies say exposure to the sun causes pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) skin lesions. There is also a risk of benign tumors besides wrinkles, freckles and discoloration in the skin called mottled pigmentation.

Today, skin cancer is the most prevalent form of all cancers in the U.S. Hence, the National Stay Out Of Sun Day, which falls on June 3 every year, is a perfect opportunity to learn a few tips to save yourself from those harmful UV rays.

1) Use Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must, even if it is a cloudy or rainy day. Doctors suggest using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Ensure it is water-resistant and has an SPF of 30 or higher. While ordinary sunscreens may help you from getting sunburned, they may not offer protection against skin cancer. Also, ensure your sunscreen is safe and approved to use.

2) Avoid Reflective Surfaces: While it is important to stay in a shady place, one should also be careful not to be near reflective surfaces like water, snow or sand. These objects, including the windows of a building, can reflect the sun’s damaging rays. While coarse and soft surfaces like grass bounce fewer rays, concrete, and even snow, reflect more rays. Now, you know why you can get sunburnt even in snow.

3) The Right Clothes: Known as the first line of defense against the sun, it is imperative that you wear proper clothing while out on a sunny day. Dark clothes with tightly woven fabric, like polyester or rayon, are said to be the best choices for sun protection. Also, try sun-protective clothing, which comes with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating.

4) Know Your Medication: Are you taking any medication? If yes, are they sun-sensitizing? These are drugs that have side effects when people taking them are exposed to the sun. There are two types of sun-sensitizing drug reactions, photoallergy and phototoxicity. In the first one, problems occur when skin is exposed to the sun after certain medicines are applied to its surface. Phototoxicity happens when skin is exposed to the sun after certain medications are injected, taken orally, or applied to the skin.

Sunny Day
Representational image Pixabay
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