Summer Sun Protection

With the weather starting to warm up, there is a plethora of things to do in Central Oregon. But as the sun’s ray increase, so does the risk of skin cancer. It is important to make sure to protect our skin as we begin to enjoy a beautiful Bend summer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology,  sunscreen with SPF 30 offers protection from burns, but it does not block harmful rays that can impact our skin’s health. Make sure find shade whenever possible, avoid main hours of sun, wear long-sleeved clothing, as well as wearing sunglasses when outdoors. Summertime usually means taking the kids to the pool or heading to the lake on a warm day. Water-resistant sunscreens are great for those activities, but must be applied regularly. With constant water contact, perspiration and towel drying, this removes this sunscreen layer from protecting our skin. Make sure to apply sunscreen every few hours, or after consistent contact with water. Indoor tanning beds are extremely detrimental to skin health and have been proven to increase the risk of skin cancer.  Anything that changes the natural color of your skin is harmful. As Central Oregon becomes our summer playground, there are many outdoor activities to participate in. However, in doing so it is important to prepare for sun exposure and prevent skin damage. This link provides a great reference for sun safety information.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Chart below serves as a reference for the UV Index, which provides a daily forecast for the expected risk of exposure to the sun. This chart provides important health information and acts as a guide for planning outdoor activities. The intensity levels for sun exposure are ranked from 1-11+ to determine what precautions need to be made for sun exposure. Enjoy some Vitamin D this summer, but make sure to protect your skin while doing so.

Some helpful websites for skin & sun protection

http://www.skincancer.org/

http://www.aad.org/

Print