Maureen Johnson
Daily Egyptian
People cannot avoid spending time outdoors, so dermatologist Eugenia Poulos recommends they just take precautions.
"If people want to be outside, then they should use sunscreen, and they should reapply it," Poulos said. "They should use protective clothing. The darker the color, the more protection."
Poulos also recommends a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. She said an SPF indicates the amount of time a person can spend in the sun before burning.
For example, if a fair-skinned person can stay out in the sun for ten minutes without getting a sunburn, applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will allow that person to stay outside for 150 minutes before burning.
The American Academy of Dermatology provides ten tips for staying safe in the sun:
1. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (protecting the skin from both UVA and UVB light) with an SPF of 15 or higher.
2. Reapply sunscreen every two hours when outdoors even on cloudy days.
3. Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
4. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors.
5. Stay in the shade whenever possible.
6. Avoid reflective surfaces, which can reflect up to 85 percent of the sun's damaging rays.
7. Protect children from sun exposure.
8. If you don't see your shadow, seek shade! If your shadow is shorter than you are, you're likely to burn.
9. Avoid tanning beds.
10. Try to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
If you would like information about protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays, refer visit the American Academy of Dermatology online at http://www.aad.org.
Reporter Maureen Johnson can be reached at mjohnson@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
