While outdoor activities are closely connected with summer fun, your skin can suffer the effects of exposure to sunlight. The ultraviolet rays produced by the sun can cause several types of skin cancer, most commonly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. People with fair skin and people over the age of 40 are at increased risk of skin damage from exposure to the sun. There are simple steps that will help protect your skin against the harmful effects of sun exposure.
Step 1
Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when working or playing outdoors. Clothing offers varying degrees of protection against ultraviolet rays, and can help prevent skin damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control, tightly-woven fabrics offer better protection than loosely-woven fabrics; and darker colors may protect better than lighter ones. Some clothing is manufactured specifically to block sun. It's often sold in outdoor stores and catalogs. Clothing should be loose, to allow for ease of movement and evaporation of perspiration.
Step 2
Wear a wide-brimmed hat., which protects both your head and your face from the sun's rays. Choose a darker-colored hat made from a tightly-woven fabric such as canvas, advises the Centers for Disease Control. Avoid straw hats, which have holes that sunlight can penetrate.
Step 3
Apply sunscreen with a protection rating of SPF 30 or higher to all exposed skin, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. The higher the rating, the more protection the sunscreen provides against ultraviolet light penetration. If you plan to spend the day at the beach or engaging in watersports, choose a waterproof sunscreen that won't wash off in the water. Sunscreen should be amply applied at least a half an hour before sun exposure. Reapply after you swim or sweat excessively.
Step 4
Take supplements that contain antioxidants, which are thought to destroy free radicals that can cause cellular damage and lead to skin and other cancers. Several herbal supplements, including green tea, ginger, ginkgo and milk thistle are considered antioxidants, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A multivitamin supplement containing vitamins A, C, and E will also provide antioxidant protection, notes Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Eat a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables for natural antioxidant protection.
Tips and Warnings
- Try to keep clothes dry when working or playing outdoors. According to the Centers for Disease Control, wet clothes offer less ultraviolet protection than dry clothes.
- Do not use herbal or vitamin supplements as a replacement for sunscreen or protective clothing. Some herbs may cause allergic reactions, so check with your doctor before taking herbal supplements to protect your skin against sun damage.
Things You'll Need
- Protective clothing
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Sunscreen lotion
- Antioxidant supplements
References
- Centers for Disease Control: Skin Cancer - Prevention
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin Cancer
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D.; 1997
