If you are traveling to a warm destination for Spring Break, or even if you will be spending some extra time outdoors at home, it’s time to brush up on your sun safety tips. Remember, the sun’s rays are already getting very strong in spring during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are traveling to a warm Spring Break location, you need to be extra vigilant about sun safety because the sun is extremely strong in tropical locations and you can get a sunburn in just minutes. Tanning and even one sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer.
Follow the tips below to protect yourself and your family this Spring Break:
- Seek shade outdoors whenever possible.
- Apply sunscreen of at least an SPF of 30 or higher in the morning. Remember to reapply it throughout the day, especially when getting in and out of water.
- Use a protective lip balm with an SPF 30 or higher and reapply it throughout the day. Lips receive more sun exposure than any other part of the body.
- Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants, darker colors, and clothing with UV protection when possible. Many clothing manufacturers now offer stylish UPF-clothes that offer all-day protection.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat. While baseball caps are very popular with kids and do a great job of protecting the scalp, they don’t protect the cheeks, ears and neck. If you select a baseball hat, be sure you also thoroughly cover the face, ears, and neck with sunscreen.
- Wear UV-protecting sunglasses when you are outdoors. Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts and an increased risk of ocular melanoma.
For More Information on Sun Safety
If you would like to speak to a board-certified dermatologist about sun safety or any other skincare topics, find a Forefront dermatologist near you to schedule an appointment.
