-: Jul 12, 2024 / Melissa Payne

OWL Shares UV Safety Tips

Whether you are outdoors for fun or work, staying protected from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is always important. UV light is an invisible radiation produced by the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. Too much exposure to UV light damages skin cells, which in turn causes most skin cancers.

UV rays can reach you not just during hot summer days but also damage skin cells on cloudy and cool days. UV rays reflect off surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow.

According to the CDC, in the continental U.S., UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during daylight saving time and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during standard time. If you plan to be outdoors, checking the daily UV index is essential. This index forecasts the strength of the UV rays. Too much sun exposure can be dangerous when the index is three or higher.

Ways to Protect Yourself from UV Rays

Sunscreen

If you plan to be outdoors when the UV index is high, protect yourself by applying a thick layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen to any exposed skin. Sun protection factors (SPF) are assigned to sunscreens. The rate of the SPF indicates how well it filters out UV rays. The higher the SPF number, the higher the sunscreen’s protection. No sunscreen can filter out 100% of UV rays.

Remember that swimming, sweating, or using a towel can remove sunscreen. If you plan to be outside for two or more hours, reapply sunscreen.

No sunscreen is waterproof. However, there are water-resistant sunscreens, which means they are effective for a certain amount of time. If your sunscreen is labeled as water resistant, check the packaging to see the recommended amount of time before the sunscreen should be reapplied.

Sunscreen does have expiration dates. Typically, its shelf life is three years. However, if it has been exposed to higher temperatures, it has a shorter shelf life.

Clothing

Clothing can also protect your skin from UV rays. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are ideal, but clothes made from tightly woven fabric are best when temperatures are high.

Wet t-shirts may feel cooler, but they offer less protection. Also, darker-colored clothing may offer more protection from UV rays.

Hats made from tightly woven dark fabric such as canvas with brim all the way around to provide shade for your face, ears, and neck are the best option. Straw hats are fun, but like any hats with holes, they don’t offer full protection.

Sunglasses, especially wrap-around sunglasses, protect your eyes from UV rays. They reduce the risk of cataracts caused by too much exposure to UV rays and protect the sensitive skin around your eyes.

Shade provided by an umbrella or a tree, for example, can provide some protection, but remember, UV rays reflect off surfaces, so even in the shade, wear sunscreen and protective clothing.