Be Smart In The Sun | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Be Smart In The Sun

The summer is here, don't get fried by the sun.

38
Be Smart In The Sun
keyword-suggestions

This is the time of year when being outside is fun, and the layers are off, exposing our skin. Then the women start to complain about their creamy skin or stubborn tan lines or not wanting to get any darker. And the men stand there pretending the sun doesn’t affect their tough manly skin. I think that it is important to understand some basic information about the sun and its effects on our skin. I am no stranger to sunburn and my family has a long history with skin cancer; I have always tried to be careful in the sun for that reason.

First the sun emits many frequencies of light ranging from visible to invisible. The sun emits mostly visible light, but also ultraviolet rays (which can be replicated in things like tanning beds). Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays is linked to skin cancer. There are two main types of ultraviolet light, UVA and UVB. There is a third type - UVC but that is absorbed by ozone in our atmosphere before it can reach us on the ground.

Fun fact about UVA rays is that they can pass through glass, in your house or car. UVA exposure causes your skin to age and wrinkle, and studies suggest that they play a role in causing basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. UVB rays however cannot pass through glass, but studies more strongly suggest that exposure is linked to melanoma (skin cancer).

Now with that scary information in your mind, how do we prevent this from happening. Well … obviously use sun lotion and limit your exposure to direct sunlight. The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Now staying out of the sun doesn’t mean becoming a hermit. A helpful tip that I just learned is that if your shadow is shorter than you, you should find some shade. The UV Index is a helpful tool to see how strong the UVA and UVB rays are on that particular day. They range on a scale from 1-10, if they are a 10 you should really consider staying out of the sun.

Now some protection guidelines, you should be using sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection, SPF of 30, and water resistant. In addition you should be applying about one ounce of sun lotion before going outside. Also reapplying every two hours is a very good habit to get into. VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure your sun lotion isn’t expired! So if you have leftover from last summer, toss it and get a new bottle. Most people don’t think about how these rays can affect their eyes. This is where sunglasses come in handy. Most sunglasses these days at least have a sticker saying that they absorb UV rays, but just in case, you should check to make sure they say between 99 to 100 percent UV absorption.

In addition, if you are using medicines like, antibiotics, acne cream, anti-inflammatory, etc … your skin will be more sensitive to the sun, so plan accordingly. And since it is the time of year for outside parties and beach vacations, drinking alcohol also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays. So before laying in your sun chair with a margarita or beer, think twice about finding some shade before you get too comfortable.


So as the summer gets underway and the sleeves get shorter, remember your sun lotion and shades. Being tan might look cool now, but being a wrinkly thirty-year-old won’t be fun. Save yourself the hassle of bi-annual dermatologist appointments, scalpels, and biopsies.


website: http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1257
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2696
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2779
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments