particularly in children.
• Limit unprotected exposure to solar radiation,
especially during the hottest midday hours
between 10am and 2pm.
• Seek shade wherever possible, but remember
sunburn can occur even while in partial shade.
• Sunburn can also occur while in the water, and
can be equally damaging from the high level of
reflected UV radiation off snow or sand.
• Covering your head with a wide-brimmed hat or
cap, reduces exposure to the face, head and neck.
• Cover exposed skin with protective clothing,
such as long-sleeved shirts.
• Sunglasses should be designed to exclude both
direct and peripheral exposure of the eye.
• Apply sunscreen with high SPFs (minimum 15),
to uncovered skin. Apply generously, and
reapply frequently.
• Certain prescribed drugs, medicines and
cosmetics may make you more sensitive
to sunlight.
FACTS ABOUT SUN PROTECTION
• Sunlight is essential to all life on earth, and
most of its effects are beneficial. However, a
component of sunlight that is invisible to our
eyes is ultraviolet, or UV light. As we travel
to hotter climates on vacations, and suntan as
often as possible, incidences of skin cancer rise
dramatically. Research shows that nearly all
skin cancers are caused by the sun, and fall into
two main types: Non-melanomas, although
rarely fatal, account for about 5% of registered
malignancies, and predominantly affect the
elderly. Malignant melanomas, on the other
hand, occur in a much younger age group, and
account for just under 10% of cancers in the
20-39 age group. This rate has doubled over
the last fifteen years and is now the cause of 1
in 25 cancer deaths in this age group. Taking
more care of our skin in the sun could help to
drastically reduce this statistic.
• Sunlight contains two types of UV radiation,
known simply as UVA and UVB. Both
types cause changes to the skin, but there are
important differences. Remember: A is for
Aging, B for Burning. UVA penetrates deeply,
leading to drying, wrinkling, sagging (from
reduced elasticity) and blemishes (such as ‘liver
spots’). UVB, produces surface damage ranging
from a slight redness to severe blistering.
• The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a cream or
lotion, indicates the level of protection offered
against the effects of prolonged exposure to
sunlight. It is the ratio of the UV exposure
needed to produce minimal erythema (redness)
on a skin site protected by the sun cream,
compared to the UV exposure needed to produce
comparable erythema on unprotected skin. The
greater the SPF number, the longer the skin can
be exposed to direct sunlight without damage.
Nevertheless, even when using a good sunscreen,
common sense is vital!
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