Sunlight offers many benefits for the health and well-being of our skin. We need to be exposed to moderate amounts of sunlight to produce vitamin D for example. However, too much exposure to sunlight is much more harmful than beneficial. Australia has high numbers of skin cancers linked to UV ray exposure, especially in the coastal areas like Sydney and Melbourne. Therefore, you must take adequate steps to protect yourself from harsh sunlight that emits cancer-causing UV rays. This doesn’t mean staying indoors all the time, of course. Here are several practical tips for limiting your exposure to direct sunlight and reducing your risk for skin cancer:
Protect Yourself from the Sun Every Day
Sun protection is not limited to the days at the beach or the pool. In fact, you should think about limiting UV ray exposure every day. If you drive to lunch from work midday with the car windows open exposing you the sunlight, then that is a form of serious UV radiation exposure. If you are going to be in the sun for more than several seconds, then you need to protect yourself. Wear sunscreen on a daily basis if you plan on being outside the office building. When stepping to the yard, the store, the neighbor’s house, wherever, wear a hat and sunglasses. Minimal exposure to sunlight per day is limited to under 10 minutes. That means you have to take protective measures nearly all day. You will have to be extra careful if you have red hair or grey eyes, as that indicates you have very low levels of melanin protecting your skin cells.
Don’t Use Tanning Beds
No, tanning beds and lamps are not harmless. These also emanate a type of UV radiation that can also cause irreversible skin damage that will put you at risk for cancer. You should not use tanning beds or lamps at all to make your skin less pale. Tanning, in general, is best avoided because you are essentially putting yourself at risk. Instead, buy a best self tanner product to get a tan without a single ray of sunlight touching your skin.
Spend Time Outdoors in the Shade
Most of us love to spend time outside on warm, sunny days. But don’t do so in sunlight. If you want to read a book or have a cup of tea outdoors, do so in the shade so your skin is not exposed to direct sunlight. If possible, avoid being outdoors when the sun is shining the brightest, which is typically midday between 10am and 4pm. Doctors recommend using the shadow test to see if it’s safe to be outside during daytime. If your shadow is taller than you are, then the sunlight is relatively mild so it’s quite safe to be outside.
Mind the Sunlight Coming Through Windows
UV rays can penetrate the glass or translucent plastic in windows in your home, office, car, or the cafe. Some windows are tinted to prevent this, but the type of tinting matters. Not all tints block UV radiation completely. However, UV rays that pass through windows are relatively harmless compared to direct exposure. Still, you should not spend too much time near windows if the sunlight is coming through and your skin is exposed to it.
And, wear dark colors on hot days. Clothing, in general, provides protection of UV radiation. But the type of clothing matters. The thicker the fabric is, the more protection is would offer. The color of the fabric also matters. Dark colors fabrics are better at blocking UV light so you should consider wearing the darker shades when the sun is out in full force.
