Quick Tips for UV Protection During Fun in the Sun
By Arika Tenbrook, Public Health Registered Nurse
Seek shade outdoors
• Remain in the shade during midday hours whenever possible.
• Use umbrellas, awnings, and trees for shade. Protect your skin with clothing
• Look for clothing that provides UV protection or choose tightly woven material.
• Some laundry detergents may be able to add UV protection to your clothing.
Use sunscreen
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you are swimming or sweating.
• Make sure you apply sunscreen to all areas not covered by clothes: Arms, legs, ears, neck, scalp, hairline, face, and the tops of your feet. Wear a hat with a wide brim or sunshade that covers your head, neck and ears.
• The brim of your hat should be two to three inches all around.
• Choose a hat made of tightly woven material, and be sure to avoid straw hats.
Wear sunglasses
• Sunglasses protect your eyes and the delicate skin around your eyes.
• Look for sunglasses that block 99%-100% of UVA and UVB rays. Remember that children sunburn more easily than adults
• Set a timer to remind you to reapply sunscreen to children.
• Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight.
• Check with your infant’s doctor to determine what kind of sunscreen is safe.
Remember that children sunburn more easily than adults
• Set a timer to remind you to reapply sunscreen to children.
• Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight.
• Check with your infant’s doctor to determine what kind of sunscreen is safe.
Read the full reference article here:
American Cancer Society: How to Protect Your Skin from UV Ray www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/uv-protection.html
Find additional resources for safe fun in the sun here:
www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv.html
Follow this link to learn how much sun, is safe for your skin type:
In brief: How much sun is too much?
