Sunscreen Awareness!
- Don’t let the sun deter you from being healthy! Exercise is important too, even if it’s outside. The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that a third of the most common cancers can be prevented through physical activity, healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Sunscreen is very important to protect yourself! The American Cancer Society recommends, “Sunscreens with broad spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays) and with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 30 or higher”Additionally, it should be re-applied at least every 2 hours.
Outdoor Activities!
- Be extra cautious near water or snow. Swimming can remove sunscreen fast and the sun’s rays can bounce or be reflected off of snow and other surfaces!
- Don’t forget about sunglasses and hats! Remember, you want 100% UVA and UVB protection from your sunglasses. No matter how much they cost, without this UVA/UVB they are worthless to your eye health.
- Your clothes do not protect you 100%! It’s always a good idea to wear sunscreen under clothing. If you forget, just be sure to stick to tightly woven fabric and darker colors because they offer the most protection. Most of all, if you can see through fabric UV rays can get through as well!
Who does it Affect?
- According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma is more common in men than women. Make sure your brothers, fathers, husbands, sons know the risks and use sunscreen too! It is important for everyone to protect himself or herself.
- It doesn’t matter whether you consider your skin light, dark, or somewhere in between—people of all skin colors can get skin cancer from the sun’s UV rays. Most importantly, the suns rays can cause skin to age early and skin cancer in anyone.
Resources: Find out more!
Learn more about sunscreen with this activity!
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/pdf/sunsafety_v0908.pdf
Instructographic to teach kids about the effects of the sun!
Sources:
“How Do I Protect Myself from UV Rays?” American Cancer Society N.p.n.d. Web. 12 July 2016.
http://www.cancer.gov/ – National Cancer Institute
http://www.wcrf.org/ – World
