On the week of Memorial Day, many Northeasterners experienced the first heat wave of the summer. Temperatures in NJ, Pennsylvania and Delaware reached the nineties on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday following Memorial Day. As Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning of the summer season, one can expect hot temperatures to continue throughout the next three months or so, no matter where you live in the Continental United States.
Of course, many of us love the summer months because it gives us ample opportunity to go to the beach, have barbeques outside, do some work in the garden and enjoy all that Mother Nature has bestowed to us. However, there is a hidden danger – well actually not that hidden – when you stay outside too long in the form of the sun.
We do need the sun somewhat. Just watch any Doctor Oz show, and he’ll tell you that we need the sun in order to produce enough Vitamin D. Now you, of course, can substitute the sun with Vitamin D supplements, but he would suggest the best way to get the Vitamin D you need is through several minutes of direct sunlight because of absorption. However, many dermatologists might disagree with him. So what’s the big deal with spending too much time in the sun?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, too much sun exposure puts you at risk of burns and eventual skin cancer. Each year, more than 3.5 million skin cancers are identified in two million people. And this is not just something that light-skinned blondes and gingers get either. People of all skin colors can contract skin cancer from too much time spent in the sun, so certain prevention strategies must be practiced to ensure you don’t get skin cancer. They include…
- Wearing sunscreen: This is a given, or so you might think. If you go to the pharmacy and just buy any sunscreen on the shelf, you might be in for a rude awakening. Although the studies out there are still few and others are in the infant stages, there is some evidence that chemically-based sunscreens that you would find on the shelf aren’t usually the best at protecting against the sun’s rays. Particular blame has been put on oxybenzone, which can penetrate the skin and cause allergic reactions among other things. If you can, find natural sunscreen to protect your skin during the summer months.
- Seeking shade during the most extreme times of the day: If you’re going to go out in the sun, do so in the later afternoon or early evening. That’s because the sun’s rays are strongest and most dangerous between the hours of 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. If your shadow is shorter than you, try to find a tree for shade or go back inside.
- Wear clothing to protect yourself: Although it might be counterintuitive on a hot day, do yourself a favor and wear long sleeve clothing and a hat to protect your skin from the sun’s rays. Sunglasses aren’t just an accessory to look cool either. They are a must too because they protect your eyes from damage.
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Tony is studying to be a dermatologist and wants to share with readers ways to protect themselves from harmful solar rays.
