What’s Your Sun Safety IQ?
Happy August!
Summer Sun Safety Month encourages you to enjoy your summer, but take precautions to avoid overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays As a reminder, too much exposure to UV light can be harmful to your skin, which can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and unprotected UV exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.
To protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays and reduce your risk:
- Use Sunscreen-Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
- Seek Shade-Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Wear sun-protective clothing- Wear a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.
To test your sun safety knowledge, check out the American Cancer Society’s quiz- https://www.cancer.org/healthy/be-safe-in-sun/sun-safety.html
