Preventative
Care
Sun
avoidance
- Avoid sun exposure as much as possible between the hours
of 10AM and 4PM
- Don't stay in the sun for prolonged periods of time, even
if you are wearing sunscreen
- Seek shade
- Avoid tanning beds
- Even on cloudy days, 80% of sun’s UV rays reach
you
Read more about sun
avoidance
Sunblock
Use broad spectrum sunscreen daily with SPF of 30 or greater- UVA/UVB protection.
- Apply ~30 minutes prior to sun-exposure.
- Apply to all sun-exposed areas. Don't forget lips, ears,
back of neck, or back of legs.
- Apply a sufficient coat of sunscreen- most common mistake
is being too stingy
- Reapply every 2 hours when out in the sun- more frequently
if in water or sweating
- Use lip balm with sun block daily that is frequently reapplied
- Chemical sunblocks- these function by absorbing the harmful energy
of sunlight before it reaches your skin
- Most chemicals used in sunblock only provide protection over a
narrow range of UV radiation. Therefore, sunblocks often use combinations
of chemical blockers to provide broad spectrum protection.
- USCF typically recommends chemical sunblocks that contain Parsol
1789 (avobenzone) because of its superior protection against UVA
radiation
- Mexoryl (Anthelios) is another chemical sunblock that provides
excellent broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It is not approved
for use in the United States by the Federal Drug Administration
(FDA) but is sold in Europe and Canada, often through internet sites.
- Physical blockers- contain ingredients that scatter UV radiation before
it reaches your skin
- titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the only two physical sunblocks
are generally considered equally effective
both offer broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
good for sensitive skin
Read more about sunblock
UV
protective clothing
- Wear protective clothing
- Long sleeve shirts and long pants with a tight fabric weave
- A white cotton T-shirt only provides a SPF of ~5.
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat -
Baseball style caps provide no protection for the ears, a common area
for skin cancer to occur.
- Wear sunglasses with a UV protective coating
Specialized UV protective clothing are available from several manufacturers
(SunPrecautions clothing, Coolibar, etc…)
Read more about UV
protective clothing
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