Someone with fair skin on a low UV day can suffer a sun burn in only an hour. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that “One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.” Wearing sunscreen is essential for protecting you and your loved ones. Damage from the sun can not only cause skin cancer, but it can also cause your skin to age faster, creating wrinkles and hyper pigmentation.
The Sun Safety Alliance is dedicated to educating the public about skin cancer and reducing the number of people with the disease. June 4 through 9 is Sun Safety Week, and here are some tips on how you can enjoy the outdoors without getting burnt:
• Stay in the shade between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest.
• Wear protective clothing whenever possible—a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Apply a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher that offers broad spectrum coverage on adults; children should use SPF 30 or higher; and children under 6 months of age should stay out of the sun.
• Put sunscreen on exposed skin (including ears, lips, neck and scalp) before going outside and reapply often, including after sweating or swimming.
• Remember to use extra caution around snow, water, sand and concrete, which reflect UV rays.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Stay in the shade as much as possible.
If you have already experienced some skin damage due to the sun, Massage Envy offers our Environmental Shield® Vitamin C Facial to help reverse the signs of aging from environmental factors such as sunlight. It is part of our groundbreaking Murad skincare products that have been specially created for Massage Envy Spa.
