Sun protection is one of the most essential aspects of any outdoor activity. Here’s ten tips that will help keep you properly covered.
By Dan Sanchez
It’s a simple fact that being outdoors will increase your exposure to the sun. The scary fact is that over exposure can lead to skin cancer, and according to the Food and Drug Administration, the incidence of Melanoma cancer has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years. Just in the United States alone, the National Cancer Institute confirms 68,130 Melanoma cases were diagnosed in the last year.
So it’s obvious that carrying various types of sun protection is essential, but that bottle of sun screen in your day pack may not be enough to proactively protect yourself and your loved ones. So here are some tips that can help you keep better protected.
1. Use more sunscreen than you think is necessary. Read the label on the bottle of sun screen you’re using. It should indicate the recommended amount to use and when to re-apply. In most cases, it takes two-ounces to properly cover your entire body. So an eight-ounce bottle is good for only four applications.
2. One application of sunscreen isn’t enough. The American Cancer Society suggests applying sunscreen every two hours. Some may last longer but to be sure, read the label. Furthermore, If you’re sweating on a trail-run or day hike, you may have to reapply every 30 minutes. Take that issue into account to ensure you have enough to protect yourself for the entire day or length of your trip.
3. Know your SPF. Sun Protection Factor is a rating of sunburn protection but it’s only for UVB rays. SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 protects up to 97 percent, and SPF 50 up to 98 percent. Sunscreens with higher SPFs are typically misleading as SPF 50 is the highest rating.
4. Know your skin’s limits. If you burn after 10 minutes in the sun, then a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 should let you remain exposed or 150 minutes. That is… if you applied enough of it on your skin. Fair skin burns quicker than dark skin so know your skin’s limits and apply the appropriate amount of protection. If that’s too hard to calculate, use the highest SPF you can find and re-apply every two hours.
5. Look for key indredients for both UVB and UVA protection. Not all sunscreens have UVA protection and you’ll have to read the label to find out. Sunscreens with UVA protection include avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789), benzophenones (or oxybenzone), cinnamates (also called octinoxate,cinoxate, and ecamsule (also called Mexoryl Sx). Other UVA blockers are made from minerals such as zinc oxide and titanum dioxide, which have proven to be far superior than any chemical blocker and are safe on children.
6. Wear a hat. Sounds simple enough but the type of hat can make a difference. A wide-brim hat (with a three inch brim) works best and will protect your face and the back of your neck. Look for hats that have ventilation, water resistance and wick away moisture.
7. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. UV exposure can cause macular degeneration, cataracts and many other eye problems. So wearing sunglasses is essential. Look for lenses that block 100 percent of UV rays. The darkness of the lens or polarized lenses don’t do anything for blocking UV rays.
8. Protect your lips. Most people forget to protect their lips which can become burned, chapped and cracked. There are many lip balms that have an SPF 15 which should be applied often.
9. Wear sun protective clothing. If you don’t like reapplying sunscreen every two hours, there are several pieces of outdoor apparel that have offer excellent sun protection, while also being breathable and wick moisture away. Look for apparel that features long-sleeves and are lightweight and somewhat loose fitting. These can be button type shirts with a collar or a performance T-shirts. Some will have a UV protective weave or chemical coating, but they should all have proper ventilation and be comfortable to wear.
10. There’s no such thing as completely water-proof sunscreen. All sunscreens loose their effectiveness when immersed in water. Many that are listed as waterproof will typically offer 80 minutes of protection. Those listed as water-resistant will deliver about 40-minutes of protection. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should always reapply sun screen after taking a swim or sweating heavily.
