Here Comes the Sun!

With Daylight Savings past us and an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings as the days get longer as we travel through Spring on into Summer, it’s a good time to remind everyone that sunburn season is officially upon us. That means that it is time to start thinking about protecting our skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays that can give us painful sunburns as well as raise our risk of contracting skin cancer.

 The CDC reports that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Nearly five million people each year are treated for skin cancer, and the deadliest form of it, melanoma, claims nine thousand lives annually.

The good news is that many skin cancers can be prevented. While sunburns can occur even on a cloudy day, the risk is at its highest when the sun is shining. So now that the weather is improving and activities are migrating outdoors, keep in mind sun safety before you head to the beach, park, golf course, or even just outside for some gardening.

Stay in shady places, especially during the sunniest hours of late morning through early afternoon. Take breaks under the cover of a tree, or an overhead structure. And make sure to dress in sun protecting clothes that cover your arms and legs, and a hat with a wide brim that covers your face and neck. Invest in a pair of sunglasses with lenses that block both UVA and UVB rays. And don’t forget sunscreen! Put it on before you go out, and reapply it every two hours or sooner.