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sunscreen
Spending time outdoors is enjoyable, but can also pose a risk to your health. It was once believed that exposure to the sun was necessary to the body because it allowed you to get Vitamin D. However, today many foods are fortified with Vitamin D which means that it isn't necessary to spend as much time in the sun.
Sun exposure can cause skin damage in the form of sunburn. Repeatedly burned or over exposed skin becomes dry, wrinkled and discolored. Not only does unprotected sun exposure lead to leathery skin, it can also cause skin cancer which is the most common of all cancers. With this in mind, it is important to remember to protect yourself and your children from the sun's harmful rays. Here are some ways to avoid the harmful effects of the sun.
- Wear sunscreen daily. It is important that sunscreen is applied to exposed skin any time you plan to spend any length of time outdoors. Applying a sunscreen with an SPF level of 15 or higher should be applied to skin 20-30 minutes prior to sun exposure for the most benefit.
- Avoid spend a lot of time outdoors between 10 am and 3pm everyday. Ultraviolet rays, which cause the most skin damage, are strongest during these hours.
- If you have extra sensitive skin, wear protective clothing such as long sleeve shirts.
- Wear sun glasses with UV protection to keep your eyes healthy.
In addition to protecting yourself from the sun's harmful rays, it is important to apply sunscreen liberally to children's skin. Recently, a researcher reported that "if sunscreens were used regularly by children through the age of 18, there would be a 72% reduction in the cases of skin cancer later in life." Teaching good habits as a child will encourage children to continue to protect their skin into adulthood
Source: www.clevelandclinic.org
