The American Cancer Society has reported that more than 1 million cases of skin cancer (in forms other than melanoma) are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and that the majority of them are related to sun exposure. The harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun not only damage the skin and cause it to age prematurely, but they are also the main cause of several kinds of skin cancer.
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All these are good reasons why you should do as much as you can to protect your skin from sun damage. Hint: A good start would be to follow the 5 tips in this article.
1. Use A Sunscreen With An SPF Of At Least 30
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All exposed skin should be covered with a sunscreen rated at SPF 30 or above whenever you go out into the sun. The higher its rating, the more ultraviolet light the sunscreen blocks out, and the more effective it is.
If you’re going to spend all day at the beach or doing any activity in water, make sure you’re using a waterproof sunscreen. Otherwise, it will just wash off.
Apply a generous amount of sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun. After getting sweaty or swimming, you’ll need to apply more sunscreen, so bring it with you.
2. Wear Long Sleeve Shirt And Pants
When you work or play outside during the summer, you can protect yourself from the sun by wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves. Clothing can help you prevent damage to your skin by blocking some ultraviolet rays.
Experiments conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have determined that the fabrics that protect best against the sun are tightly-woven, not loosely-woven. Also, clothing in darker colors may protect you better than lighter-colored garments.
Finally, you should wear loose-fitting clothing if possible. This allows sweat to evaporate from the skin, as well as making it easier to move around.
3. Wear A Wide-Brimmed Hat
Anytime you’re going to be out in the hot sun, wear a hat with a wide brim. The brim keeps the sun off of both your face and your head.
The CDC advises that you wear a hat made from a tightly-woven fabric, like canvas, in a dark color for maximum sun protection. You shouldn’t count on straw hats to protect you from the sun – their holes can allow sunlight to get through to your skin.
4. Eat Foods That Are Rich In Antioxidants
The job of antioxidants is to destroy free radicals, which cause damage to cells. This damage can ultimately lead to various forms of cancer, including skin cancer. You can reduce your risk by taking nutritional supplements that contain antioxidants.
Some great examples of herbs that contain antioxidants include ginkgo, milk thistle, ginger, and green tea. You can also get antioxidants from multivitamins, as long as they contain vitamins A, C, and E.
5. Keep Yourself Well-Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water throughout the whole day improves the health of your whole body, including your skin. If you take care to remain hydrated, your skin will remain refreshed, and will not wrinkle prematurely due to a lack of available water.
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