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Soak up the sun safely: sunscreen tips – El Paso Inc.

Posted: April 27, 2017 at 6:45 pm

Summer is just around the corner, and for many families, that means barbecues, splashing in the pool and other activities that generally involve basking in the sun.

Unfortunately, sun safety is probably the last thing on childrens minds as theyre outside enjoying the warm weather and the results of that could be dangerous. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime.

Dr. Brenda Simpson, dermatologist at El Paso Dermatology Center, emphasized that it is imperative that parents teach their children the basics of sun safety.

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancers, including melanoma, she said. To protect your skin, it is important to seek shade remembering that the suns rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wear sun-protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeve shirts, rash guards or wet suits, sun glasses and apply sunscreen.

UV rays explained

Simpson said that sunlight contains two types of harmful ultraviolet rays that reach the earth: UVA and UVB, both of which can lead to skin cancer.

In addition, UVA rays can prematurely age skin, causing wrinkling and age spots and can pass through window glass, she said. UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass. The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round.

Dont think you need to apply sunscreen when its cloudy outside? Think again; even on those days, up to 80 percent of the suns rays can pass through the clouds.

The 411 on SPF

The sunscreen aisle features dozens upon dozens of different choices, so how should you know which is the best one?

Start by selecting an appropriate SPF sun protection factor, or as Simpson refers to it, sunburn protection factor.

A confusing thing about SPF is the number that follows it. This number tells you how much UVB light (the burning rays) a sunscreen can filter out. SPF 15 filters 93 percent of the suns UVB rays, SPF 30 filters 97 percent and SPF 50 filters 98 percent.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. No sunscreen can filter out 100 percent of the suns UVB rays. Thats why its important to also wear protective clothing and seek shade.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreens that contain the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are recommended because they are physical blockers, meaning that they are stable molecules that literally block the suns rays, Simpson said.

There is some speculation that storing sunscreen in a hot vehicle will reduce its SPF.

Chemical blockers react when exposed to light and are also able to protect your skin by absorbing UV rays. Physical blocking sunscreens do not degrade in heat. However, high temperatures may cause the ultraviolet absorbing chemicals like avobenzone and oxybenzone to degrade in the bottle.

Protect yourself and your family

By now, many of us know to avoid tanning beds, as they can cause skin cancer and wrinkles. Teach children to use sunscreen even as theyre staying active.

Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand as they reflect damaging rays of sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn, Simpson added. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating heavily.

Remind your kids that the sun isnt completely bad. It is, after all, a source of vitamin D. Just keep in mind that we should not rely on the sun as our only source for vitamin D. That should also come from a healthy diet that includes foods rich in vitamin D or supplements.

It is important to teach children how to protect their skin, Simpson said. This is a learned skill that needs to be taught by parents, educators and doctors.

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Soak up the sun safely: sunscreen tips - El Paso Inc.


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