It's easy to head out into the summer heat thinking you're protected because of the sunscreen you've slapped on. Canadian dermatologists say that's not enough. There are 75,000 new cases of skin cancer in the country every year.
The biggest mistake people make about sunscreen is they don't use enough of it. If you buy one tube in the spring and still have some left at the end of summer, you're not using enough sunscreen, unless, of course, you've spent the whole summer indoors.
Looking for extra protection?
American researchers found that cotton shirts were 50% more effective at blocking the sun's rays after they'd been washed a few times.
Even better, blue clothing was discovered to be five times more effective than white clothing at blocking UV rays because blue absorbs more light.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause premature aging and at its worst, skin cancer. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can also cause skin cancer.
According to the Canadian Dermatological Association, ultraviolet light works in many different ways to cause skin cancer. Each time skin is exposed to the sun and becomes tanned or burned, damage is done to individual cells and to DNA.
Some cells die and some repair themselves by getting rid of the damaged DNA. Cells that cannot repair themselves eventually become defective. UV radiation lowers the body’s immune system, making it more difficult to destroy defective cells. Defective cells that are not destroyed can slowly grow and produce a tumour.
There are three types of UV radiation:
- UVA: not as powerful as UVB, but these rays penetrate more deeply into the skin. Responsible for contributing to photodamage and wrinkling of the skin, premature aging, and skin cancer. Prevalent in tanning parlours.
- UVB: primarily affects the skin’s outer layers and is thought to be the primary cause of sunburn, skin aging and skin cancer. UVB rays tend to be more intense during the summer months.
- UVC: strongest, most dangerous rays. But they're normally filtered out by the ozone layer and do not reach the surface of the Earth.
Here are some tips on protecting your skin and your health.
- Use sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 with UVA or UVB protection (look for the CDA logo — Canadian Dermatological Association).
- Re-apply sunscreen periodically throughout the day and frequently if you're exercising in the heat.
- Reduce your exposure to the sun, particularly between 11 am and 4 pm when the sun's rays are at their peak.
- Wear clothing that protects as much skin as possible.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and wrap-around sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.
- Look for shaded areas during outdoor activities.
- If you are taking antibiotics or acne medication be especially cautious because they can increase your risk of sunburn.
- If you use self-tanning creams, remember that you must still apply sunscreen. You may be darker but that doesn't mean you're protected.
- Check your daily local forecast for "UV ratings" and cover up accordingly.
How to read the UV rating
0 to 2 (low): Minimal protection for normal activity. Most people can stay in the sun for up to 1 hour during peak hours without burning.
3 to 5 (moderate): Cover up. Wear hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if you're outside for more than 30 minutes.
6 to 7 (high): Protection is required. Reduce your exposure to the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Light-skinned people can burn in less than 15 minutes.
8 to 10 (very high): Take full precautions and avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Fair-skinned people can burn in less than 10 minutes.Wear clothing with tightly-woven fabric as UV rays can pass through the spaces of loosely knit clothes.
11+ (extreme): Take full precautions and avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Fair-skinned people can burn in less than 5 minutes. A UV Rating this high is extremely rare in Canada - but fairly common in tropical areas.
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