Be Sun Smart

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Be Sun Smart

Sunburn is the leading cause of skin cancers. By taking a few easy steps, you can protect yourself and your children from too much sun exposure while still enjoying all the summer offers.

*Apply sunscreen. Use one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If you plan on staying out, use one that SPF 30 or higher. Make sure to reapply it every 2 hours.

* Cover up. Consider wearing lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts if you are going to be in the sun for a long time. A wide brimmed hat is especially good at keeping the sun off of your face. Covering up will also protect against bug bites if you are out hiking.

*Avoid peak hours. The sun is at its strongest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Try to plan outdoor activities around those hours to miss the worst of the sun. Remember that clouds do not protect you as 60-80% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays do penetrate the clouds.

*Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Find ones that wrap around for the fullest protection as the sun can damage your eyes as well as your skin.

*Fake Bake. Well don't exactly bake but if you like a tanned look, try a commercial spray tan or a tanning lotion. Your skin will will have a sun kissed look without any of the risk of tanning, from the sun or the booth. YOu still will need sunscreen as these kinds of tans don't protect against sunburn.