How to have a sun-safe summer

Being in the sun stirs something primal in us. Throughout history, ancient civilizations around the world have worshiped the sun for its life-giving warmth and light. We Floridians tend to embrace it too. 

Sun science is hot, bad pun intended. The sun’s energy comes to us in waves, or rays, of light. The waves reach the Earth in various lengths from very long to very short. All these rays taken together make up the electromagnetic spectrum. 

Humans can only see a small portion of the spectrum. We see the colors of the rainbow and combinations of those colors and that’s it. Our world is painted beautifully with just those colors. 

But the fact is, all the rest, the longer than red, infrared, rays that produce the heat we feel, and the shorter than violet, ultraviolet rays are invisible to us. These invisible rays are still light, even though our eyes can’t see them.

When we talk about protecting our skin from the sun, we’re referring to those invisible ultraviolet or UV rays. 

Hot topics

Whether we’re working or playing outside, sun safety should be a hot topic. This is especially true in summer, when it’s even hotter, more of our bodies are exposed and the sun’s ultraviolet rays are stronger.

There are two types of UV rays we need to be careful of, UVA and UVB. 

UVA has longer wavelengths that get deep into skin. They cause that ever popular, tough, weathered look, premature aging, wrinkling and leathery skin. UVB rays are shorter and are responsible for the lobster effect a lot of tourists seem to like, sunburn. 

Both damage your skin’s DNA and both can cause skin cancer. Anyone can get any type of skin cancer at any time. Nearly one in 10 people in Florida will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. Skin cancer is sneaky. It often starts with something that looks like a bug bite or a freckle. If left untreated, it develops into something that requires surgical removal or worse. So early detection is critical. Get yearly checkups with a dermatologist and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any new spot on your skin.

The most common skin cancers are squamous cell carcinoma — that looks sort of like a pimple with a dark spot in it, and basal cell carcinoma that looks like a reddish or brownish blotch. They occur more often in older people and are the most treatable, particularly if caught early. 

The deadliest form, melanoma looks like a dark irregularly shaped blotch. It can start very small. Left untreated it spreads inside your body and eventually ends your life. It’s more common in younger people.

But skin cancer is largely preventable. 

Ray bans

Cover-ups work great, but not everyone wants to wear them because they’re hot.

Sunscreen is your ounce of prevention when you expect to be out for a while. 

Sunscreens are not created equal, and the most expensive is not necessarily the best. Make sure to read reviews by reputable medical organizations.

SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of what percentage of UV rays the sunscreen blocks. An SPF of 15 blocks about 93%, SPF 30 blocks 97%, SPF 50 blocks 98%. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher.

There are two basic types of sunscreens. Physical, also called mineral sunscreens sit on your skin and act as a barrier to UV rays. They are usually hypoallergenic and generally safe, but they tend to wash off in water or when you’re sweating while playing sports. Keep some with you and reapply as needed. The best ones contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. 

Chemical sunscreen is sunscreen that gets absorbed in the skin and traps UV rays and releases them as heat energy. Chemical sunscreens don’t work on contact. You need to wait 20 minutes or so before going out in the sun. Their effect wears off after about two hours, so you need to reapply if you’re staying out. Most importantly, many chemical sunscreens contain homosalate and octocrylene, chemicals that have been shown to be unsafe in the amounts used. Some of these chemicals have shown up in blood tests up to weeks after application. Traces have been found in breast milk and there is some evidence of a link to breast cancer. More study is needed, but to be on the safer side, I personally prefer to use mineral sunscreens. Check the ingredients on the package.

Then there’s eyewear. Prolonged exposure to the sun can contribute to macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. We all wanna be that hot person in the cool shades and there are lots of broad-spectrum UV-blocking, glare-reducing, polarized brands and styles to choose from. So you can be safe and stylish at the same time while you keep the sun on your side.