“That Summer Glow”

It’s getting closer and closer to that time of the year where shorts and tank tops come out, and long pants go away. Spring break is coming up as the sun is coming out more, it’s the time of year we start to spend outside and enjoy this. As fun as it is, what are we doing to protect our skin? A lot of the time we don’t  think to use sunscreen until later in the summer, but the fact is we should be using it every time our skin has any sort of contact with the sun.

The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays), damage your skin. Exposure without protection to these rays leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems. When you’re in the sun often over time skin cancer can develop, even if you don’t burn.

Tanning beds are not any safer because they as well use ultraviolet rays. It is claimed that tanning beds are “harmless” because they contain UVA rays, but both UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. While UVA rays take longer than UVB rays to damage the skin, they go deeper into the skin than UVB rays.

The highest risk factors for skin cancer include having fair skin and red or blond hair, light color eyes, many moles or freckles, working/playing outside, and having many moles, freckles, or birthmarks. Self-examinations for skin cancer should be performed regularly (See How To Perform A Self Exam).

The key to protect yourself from skin cancer is to avoid being in the sun or tanning beds. If you’re going to be in the sun for any length of time, wear long clothes made from tight-woven fabric so the sun’s rays can’t get through to your skin, and stay in the shade when you can. A wide-brimmed hat is also good to protect face and neck.

But let’s be honest, who wants to be all covered up in the sun? Yes that is the number one way to avoid skin cancer, but what other things can we do to protect ourselves and still enjoy the summer sun? Although sunscreens do not protect us completely, they do help. Use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside so that it can be absorbed by the skin. Put more on every hour if you’re sweating or swimming, and remember that the water does not protect your skin; 60%-80% of the sun’s rays can reach at least one foot under the water’s surface.

“I usually wear sunscreen at the beginning of the summer when I am still really white and burn easily. I normally only wear 8 or 15 SPF,” said Amanda Roadhouse, student at LBCC. “Sunscreen is a very good idea and protects your skin. My friend’s mom had melanoma seven times because she didn’t wear sunscreen as a child. It’s really scary!”

Although any sunscreen is better than none, lower SPF’s don’t protect nearly enough and one is still at risk for skin cancer.

The sun’s rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm, so if possible it is best to stay out of the sun during those hours, or if not due to barbecue and beach- just be sure to protect your skin as much as possible. Aside from skin cancer, tanning can actually make acne worst. It may mask it, but only temporarily. A tan may look pretty, but in the long run it’s not that worth it. A tan is really just the body’s attempt to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays.

“Contrary to public beliefs, people who are more brown skin also need sunscreen, they are not immune,” said Alethea Skinner, a student at Linn-Benton Community College majoring in Journalism. “I wear the maximum, 70 SPF. I don’t want [skin cancer].”

Yes of course it’s hard to stay covered up in the sun, and most of the time we just don’t want to! We want to enjoy it and not feel swamped in clothing. I am like this too, but am very cautious about my skin. I always try to make sure I wear sunscreen when I go outside, everyday a moisturizer with SPF 30 already in it so it’s one step easier. Think about it, in the long run- it’s not that bad of a thing to just put on that t-shirt and sunscreen.

At A Glance:

Who: Sun Lovers
What: Protecting yourself from the sun
Where: Outside; And don’t use tanning beds.
Why: Prevent skin cancer
How: Tight-knit clothing and sunscreen over SPF 15