Now that summer is here, you will no doubt spend more time outdoors. However, many of your favorite activities in the sun can be dampened by a scathing and uncomfortable sunburn. There are a lot of myths revolving around sun protection. It is important to not fall into the trap of these myths because proper sun protection can help you stay clear of skin cancer, eye damage, tanning, premature aging, and of course, sunburn. Here are some of the most common myths about sun protection that you need to steer clear of.
You cannot get a sunburn if you are not in direct sunlight or if you are in a shade
The fact is the actual sunlight does not damage your skin. It is the Ultraviolet radiation in the sun that causes damage. Even though you can’t feel or see them, these rays could easily get reflected off various surfaces such as grass, water, and even the sand. So even though a shade sail or a leafy tree can easily block some UV rays, most of them can just bounce from different surfaces to reach you.
A tan that you get over the summers is completely safe
Any tan would be a sign of getting UV damage, despite the fact that you deliberately wanted one. A tan is known as’ incidental’ damage since it’s generally the UV damage that you get when you are out in direct sunlight. All UV damage, including accidental sunburns, incident tans, and deliberate suntans, keep building over time to enhance your risk of getting a skin disease.
You cannot get a sunburn on a cool or cloudy day
Similar to the above myth that deals with shade, UV rays are just as bad for your skin on a cloudy or cool day as when the day is sunny and hot. You just can’t feel or see these vicious rays, so you need to make sure that your senses don’t fool you.
You used to sunbake earlier, so now the damage is already done
No matter how much time you have already spent in the sun before, you can never be too late to protect yourself against skin cancer. Skin cancer is considered to be one of the easiest cancers to prevent since sun protection works effectively at all ages. Whether you are 60 years old or a newborn, you can protect yourself equally.
You don’t use sunscreen since your cosmetics contain SPF
Moisturizers and cosmetics that are equipped with SPF are excellent add-ons to your sun protection kit, but they cannot solely protect you against sun damage. You need to use a regular broad-spectrum sunscreen instead and keep topping it up at regular intervals.
You are safe against skin cancer as you tan but don’t burn
All skin types could be damaged from UV radiation and are at risk of skin cancer. A tan is nothing but a sign that your skin cells have some trauma.
To get vitamin D, you can’t use sun protection
Skin could be sunburnt within 11 minutes on a clear day. Hence you don’t have to worry about vitamin D. If you would just expose your hands and arms for a few minutes in the early morning, you will fill up on your vitamin D supply while being safe.
Conclusion
The UV radiations are hitting their extreme levels in many parts of the world and are expected to only get higher until they peak. Sun protection is essential to keep you and your family safe during the summer. You can check the sun protection times for each day using a weather app, so you are aware of the times when UV radiation is high enough to cause damage to your skin.
