The sun can cause severe damage to your skin, causing not only premature aging, but also causing several types of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, most of the more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, accounts for about 8,110 of the 10,850 deaths due to skin cancer each year. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. In fact, one American dies from melanoma almost every hour!

Health and wellness expert Jeff Behar, of http://www.MybesthealthPortal.com says "you do not need to avoid the sun entirely; you just need to be "sun smart".

Sun Safety Tips

Behar offers several precautionary methods that people can take to make sure they do not harm their skin from too much sun exposure and the sun's damaging rays:

• Avoid exposure to the sun during the peak hours of 11 AM - 4 PM. During these times the sun rays are the strongest and can cause the most damage to your skin.

• Watch for the UV Index. The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. A higher number means that you should limit your time in the sun, or at least wear extra protection. The UV Index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States and can be found online, and in some newspapers, and on some news stations.

• Wear protective clothing. Wear protective clothing when possible, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Clothes should have tight weaves. Loose weaves; provide little protection from the sun. For instance, cotton T-shirts are only equivalent to a SPF-6 lotion!  Consider sun-protective clothing that lists the garment's Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) (the level of protection the garment provides from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays) for the best protection. The American Academy of Dermatology provides information on its Web site for obtaining clothing that provides a SPF of 30 or greater.  

• Protect your eyes. Regarding eye protection, stay away from mirrored sunglasses because they tend to intensify the sun's rays which can ultimately damage your eyes. Instead opt for wraparound sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection.

• Be careful of reflective surfaces. Sun exposure is actually higher when you are around reflective surfaces such as water, sand, and even snow.

• Wear sunscreen at all times. Many people are unaware that the sun's damaging rays can still cause damage on cloudy overcast days, as well as through windows in your car and home. UV light passes through clouds, and windows! For people who do not like the way sunscreen creams or lotions feel, sunscreen sprays or gels can be utilized.

• Use the right sunscreen. Most sunscreens on the market only offer protection from UVB rays, the UV rays that cause sunburn. However, it is the UVA rays that can wreak havoc deep within the epidermis, causing premature aging and causing some bad skin cancers. UVA rays penetrate deep into the middle layer of your skin, affecting the collagen supporting structures of the skin. This can lead to wrinkles and age spots. UVA rays can also diminish your body's ability to protect against cancer by weakening the immune system. Use water-resistant sunscreens that help protect skin from both UVA and UVB rays and that have SPF numbers of at least 15, although a SPF of 30 is preferred. An SPF of 15 deflects about 93 percent of the UVB rays and allows you to remain in the sun 15 times longer than you normally would before getting burned. An SPF of 30 is preferred, which protects you from 97 percent of the UVB rays and allows you to remain in the sun 15 times longer than you normally would before getting burned. The benefits of sunscreens higher than SPF of 30 are minimal. For instance, a SPF 85 provides only 2% more protection than a SPF of 30. Also consider choosing a sunscreen that is combined with moisturizers. If you have dry skin, it's a good bet.

• Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun. This allows your skin time to absorb the sunscreen for optimum sun protection.

• Apply sunscreen to the whole body.  Sunscreen isn't only for the face. Many people are diligent about keeping their faces out of the sun but forgot to protect their hands, necks and chests as well. Many dermatologists report seeing many patients with hands, necks and chests that looked 20 years older than their faces. Also do not forget the lips, your back, and even your head if you are not wearing a hat. The sun's rays can reach the scalp, even if you have a full head of hair!

• Consider sunscreens with "physical blockers". Sunscreens with "physical blockers" such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide tend to offer the best protection against both UVB and UVA, the forms of solar radiation that damage skin the most.  While many people think these types of creams as white and pasty, zinc oxide and titanium oxide can now be found in sunscreens that go on clear. Note, if you have heard claims that zinc oxide and titanium oxide might have harmful effects, by creating free radicals in the presence of sunlight, leading to cell damage; this has not be substantiated.  For zinc oxide and titanium oxide to cause harm, they must penetrate skin cells, and research by health officials in Australia, which has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, found that doesn't happen. "The weight of current evidence is that these compounds remain on the surface of the skin and in the outer dead layer (stratum corneum) of the skin," they wrote in a report.

• Apply sunscreen even if you're wearing makeup with sun protection. Studies show that a foundation's sun protective value lasts on average no more than two hours.

• Use sunscreen generously. Always apply generous amounts of sunscreen to tour skin. A shot glass-full (about one ounce) recommended. Pay special attention to areas that receive more sunlight, such as the nose, shoulders, upper back and chest.

• Reapply sunscreen often. Reapply sunscreen frequently, especially after swimming or if you have been sweating profusely. Always reapply as a minimum after being in the sun for more than 60 minutes and more often if a person is drying off and removing the sunscreen with the towel.

• Do not forget to evaluate any medicines you are taking. Certain medications (e.g., certain antibiotics, acne medication, birth control pills, diuretics, NSAIDs and tricyclic antidepressants) can increase your sun sensitivity. Other agents including perfume, cosmetics, and even the sunscreen that is meant to protect your skin may cause photosensitivity in some individuals. It is estimated that 1 in 100 people show some signs of photosensitivity. It is important to note that some people continue to be sensitive to sunlight for a long time after discontinuing use of the medication or offending agent.

• Seek shade. Seek shade when appropriate. Remember the shadow rule when in the sun: No Shadow, Seek Shade!

About Jeff Behar

Jeff Behar, MS, MBA