Unity Health - Wellness Today

Whether it's exercising, exploring nature or just spending time with family, so many of the things we love to do take place outdoors. Fortunately, limiting our exposure to the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight doesn't have to mean staying inside all the time. You should, however, limit the amount of time you spend outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as that is when UV rays from the sun are at their strongest. If you have to be outside, seek effective shade such as an umbrella or tree cover. Be aware, though, that UV rays may still reach you indirectly in the shade. Be Sun Savvy Looking for other ways to protect your skin while spending time in the great outdoors? Try these tips: • Wear a Hat. Want to protect your face, scalp, neck and ears all at once? Find a large, wide-brimmed hat to wear when you spend time outdoors. Baseball caps are great, but since they don't cover your ears and neck, you'll need an extra dose of sunscreen on those spots. • Cover Up. Dark-colored clothing, or long pants or sleeves, can be uncomfortable to wear outdoors in the sun, but they provide the best protection. Find a lightweight, tightly woven fabric to cover areas of your skin that are extra-sensitive. • Know Your Skin. Don't just make skin protection a priority when you're outdoors. Do a spot-check, literally, each month to look for new moles or skin spots that may have appeared. Talk to your primary care doctor or dermatologist about anything you find that concerns you, such as moles with uneven edges or ones that seem like they've grown since your last check. What's Your Sunscreen IQ? Everyone knows that wearing sunscreen when spending time outdoors is key to skin protection. But how much do you know past that? In order to get the most out of your sunscreen, you have to know the best kind for your needs. First things first — choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection. This means it shields your skin from both types of ultraviolet (UV) rays, UVA and UVB. While UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn, UVA rays cause premature aging such as lines and wrinkles. Both put you at risk for skin cancer. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is one of the most important elements to consider when choosing a sunscreen. While most people can use SPF 15 sunscreen, which blocks 93 percent of UVA and UVB rays, to effectively protect their skin, SPF 30 provides protection against 97 percent of UVA/UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. Reapplying every two hours is crucial to getting full protection benefits. You're In Our skin can only withstand so much sun damage before we face the consequences. Here's how to protect yours. Protect the Skin CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SKIN? A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN CAN HELP. VISIT UNITY-HEALTH.ORG/FIND-A-PHYSICIAN TO FIND ONE NEAR YOU. SPRING 2017 3 Unity Health Wellness Today

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