THE WELLNESS & FITNESS CENTER'S BLOG

UV Safety Protection

July 5, 2016, 9:27 am - Categories: Education

The summer months are here. It seems that just last week we were being bombarded with snow and ice. But the rainy spring came (although briefly) and here we are now in July with the sweltering humid heat of Virginia. With the hot sun out we need to be cautious and consider how we can protect ourselves from the Sun’s UV rays.

Being someone who is extremely pale and burns easy, I personally take skin care and sun protection very seriously. However, even if you do not have fair skin or burn easy that does not mean you are exempt from the harmful effects of the sun. While most of what I am going to share may sound elementary, I hope it serves as a good reminder to be cautious when out in the summer sun this year.

Here are three easy things you can do that will make a tremendous difference in protecting you from harmful UV burns.

1. Wear sun screen – especially when you do not think you need it. Without a doubt this will protect your skin the most, yet so few people actively wear sun screen. Even if you don’t think it actually helps protect you from UV rays, it will certainly protect you from burning. It is the repeated severe burning that increases the risk of skin cancer.
2. Utilize skin soothing creams and gels to treat burns. Do not leave a sun burn to heal on its own. The medical community has made great advancements in topical skincare that give relief to sunburn quickly by healing the skin much faster reducing the chance of further destruction and mutation at the cellular level. Keep our skin cells as healthy as possible is critical to long term deterrent of possible skin cancer.
3. Even though it is hot utilize long-sleeved clothing. Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to skin care. The more we can prevent burning, the more we lower the risks of skin cancer. There are many long sleeved t-shirt and shorts materials that are light and help reduce body heat while providing a barrier to the sun. It would be wise to use such items when out for extended periods of time.

We want you to enjoy the sun this summer. However, we also want you to be as safe as possible and realize that the threat of skin cancer from the sun is very real. Utilize some of these tips and take some time to research other ways you can mitigate the sun’s harmful effects.

Have a great and safe summer!

By: Cole Dreyer, BS, EP-C, Sales Associate/Personal Trainer