Hot Sun in the Summer Time

We all know to wear sunscreen when we're out in the sun. Here a few things to keep in mind about sunscreens.

While many brands of sunscreens are available, the active ingredients work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering some or all of the sun's rays. Most sunscreen products contain combinations of ingredients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires sunscreen products to carry a sun protection factor rating on their labels. We know this as the SPF. This number tells how well the sunscreen protects against burning. Supposedly, the higher the number, the longer a person can stay in the sun without burning. This is not the case. To be safe you should reapply the sunscreen every 2-3 hours, no matter what the SPF is. You should be using at least a SPF of 15 and even very fair people can use a an SPF of 30 and reapplied every 2 hours they will be safe.

Be sure to read the instructions that come with the sunscreen. Some need to be applied as long as 1-2 hours before sun exposure. Others should be applied 30 minutes before exposure.

Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed parts of the skin, including the hands, feet, nose, ears, neck, scalp (if the hair is thin or very short), and eyelids. Take care not to get sunscreen in the eyes, as can irritate the eyes. I don't recommend using sunscreen on the eyelids if you tend to perspire a lot. You will end up with lots of sunscreen in your eyes and have lots of eye irritation. Better to wear sunglasses to protect your eyelids. Protect the lips with a lip balm that has a sun screen in it. No matter what the sunscreen says, always reapply it after swimming or being in the water.

Cloudy days can be some of the worse days for skin damage to occur. Be in the habit of always wearing sunscreen so that your skin stays protected. Living here in the state of Colorado we are exposed to sun at higher elevations. While it might not be as warm around us, the damage from the sun is intensified. Wherever you are be aware that some surfaces reflect the sun's rays, such as sand, water, concrete, or snow. I know, snow isn't a summer problem unless you are at altitude!

We tend to be more aware of fair individuals developing a sunburn, but the truth is that all people are subject to skin damage from the sun and should be wearing sunscreen - darker skin tones can still burn.

Enjoy the sun and the beautiful out doors, but protect your skin.