How to Put Sun Safety Habits into Practice

Sobering facts:

1. One in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
2. One person dies of melanoma every hour, nearly 2 million a year.
3. Your risk doubles if you have had more than 5 sunburns.
4. Using a tanning bed before age 35 increases your chances of skin cancer by 35%.
5. Nearly 50% of Americans 65+ will have skin cancer at least once.
6. Anyone can get skin cancer regardless of skin tone or race.
7. Sun exposure damages the eyes and its surrounding skin.

Spending time in the sun is essential. The Vitamin D we get from it promotes strong bones and a healthy immune system. However, safe practices must be put in place.

People groups at high risk are: Golfers, participants and spectators of outdoor activities, parents at children’s sporting events and practices, construction workers, truck drivers, life guards, vacationers, people with thinning hair or shaven heads.

It’s important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis, regardless of the weather. The harmful effects reflect off snow, water, sand, and through clouds. Therefore, get into the habit of applying sunblock daily. Keep near your toothbrush as a remainder to apply every morning.

Here are other practices you can put in place:

1. Wear a hat, cap, or visor with a large rim.
2. Carry a parasol.
3. Wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing with long sleeves and long pants.
4. Seek shade between 9 am – 4 pm.
5. Use a shot glass amount of sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours and immediately after waterplay and sweating.
6. Avoid tanning booths.
7. Wear sunglasses
8. Use broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 15+. This alone will reduce the melanoma risk by 50%. My favorite is our SPF 50+.
9. At the end of the day, rehydrate with the Cooling After Sun Lotion.
10. Apply sunscreen 15 – 30 minutes before sun exposure.
11. Keep newborns out of the sun. Babies should not wear sunblock until 6 months old.
12. Keep extra sunscreen in your car, at work, school lockers, and backpacks. Always be prepared.
13. Use hand cream with SPF.
14. Examine your skin monthly for new or suspicious spots and for anything itchy or bleeding.
15. See your doctor annually.

If you have sun damaged skin: uneven tone, blotchiness, dark spots, and want to reverse the damage, I recommend the Revitalize Spot Serum.