COVERING UP AGAINST THE SUN: Sunscreen is important to protect your skin, but sunglasses and a good hat also keep you sun safe.
Skipping the sunscreen is a bigger deal than you may think.
Young or old, fair or dark-skinned –– too much exposure to strong UV sunrays beaming down can be harmful, says Dr. Charles Lynde, a dermatologist who treats patients with sun-damaged skin.
For years, many believed those with darker skin were shielded from the sun, but recent studies have proven otherwise.
“In general, people that are fairer skinned are the ones more likely to burn,” Lynde says. “But we now know even people with much darker skin, (who) we thought would be somewhat protected, can have gene mutations and be just as susceptible as someone with blond hair and blue eyes to chronic sun exposure.”
Sun safety starts early. Kids often spend long hours playing outdoors in playgrounds, camps or in the backyard.
“Their skin has not been hardened by years of exposure to the sun … and so it’s much easier for (children) to have sunburns, which are a sign of sun damage,” Lynde says.
The skin is very important to the immune systems of people of all ages and chronic sun exposure decreases overall immunity, Lynde says.
“It can also induce skin cancers,” he says. “Basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, which are non-melanoma skin cancers, and even melanomas have been linked to sun exposure.”
And then there’s the problem of premature aging. Chronic sun exposure accounts for 90 percent of the aging of skin, Lynde says.
To reduce the damage done by the sun, plan activities outside the sun’s peak hours of between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., he says.
“If you’re going to go play your golf game, play it at 7:30 or 8 in the morning,” Lynde says.
Cloudy days often lull people into a false sense of security, he says, though the risk is still there.
“In fact, the ultraviolet light gets through the clouds,” Lynde warns.
An important line of defence against the sun’s harmful rays is the daily use of sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that helps block both UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays, also present in tanning beds, can lead to leathery, blotchy, beaten-looking skin over time, Lynde explains, and UVB rays burn skin and are seen as the cause of many skin cancers.
“Most of us say use at least an SPF of 30 because people put on thin layers of (sunscreen) or don’t put enough on,” says Dr. Gail Nield of Woodbridge Dermatology and Laser Centre. “You need a teaspoon of it for the face and at least a tablespoon for the legs and arms.”
Using sunscreen as a moisturizer right out of the shower is a good habit to get into since it’s supposed to be applied an hour before exposure to the sun, Nield says.
And, she added, don’t forget to re-apply if you’re going to be outside for long periods.
Sunscreen isn’t recommended for kids one-year-old and under, Nield says. Instead, parents should protect their children with shade and layered or tight-woven clothing.
Though it’s most vulnerable and obvious, the skin is not the only area that needs guarding.
“The eyes need protection because they can induce cataracts, so you should be wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection,” Lynde says. “Wear a hat that not only protects the scalp itself, but one that protects your ears and shades your face and your neck.”
Respect for the sun needs to be taken seriously because it can damage appearances and even lead to death in the worst cases, Nield says.
“We’re not trying to scare anyone,” she says. “(But) too many people think a tan looks good so they forget abut sun safety.”
