How to provide yourself with sun protection

We often like tanning ourselves in the sun. However, we should keep in mind that we also need to protect skin from the sun at the same time. Skin cancer is a very common cancer in the US which is caused due to overexposure to sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. It is paramount that you take the necessary precaution to provide sun protection.

The depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere, caused due to emissions of harmful chemicals, has increased the intensity of the ultraviolet rays coming to the surface of the earth. This has made it even more important to protect your skin from sun. If you have already done significant damage to the skin, it is still possible to reverse sun damage .

Risk of skin cancer

Apart from the risk of contracting skin cancer, excessive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun will damage the outer layer of your skin by giving the skin a reddish/dark tone. This can significantly change your appearance. Reversing sun damage is a difficult and time-consuming process. This is an extra reason to give yourself sun protection.

You can take the following precautions to protect skin from sun:

•  Avoid sun during the day: The sun's rays are very strong during afternoons and you should avoid direct contact with sun rays during afternoon

•  Use clothing for sun protection: Cover your body as much as possible if you go out in the sun. Protect your skin from sun's rays with the aid of extra clothing items such as hats, gloves and sunglasses.Clothes for sun protection needn't be anything special, anything that provides adequate cover e.g. t-shirt, shirt, etc.

•  Use sunscreen lotions: The protection offered by sunscreen lotions is measured by a factor called the sun protection factor (SPF). Normally, a SPF of 15 provides sufficient protection to your skin. However, if you travel to higher altitudes, you should prefer sunscreens with sun protection factor 30.

•  If you participate in sports, it is better to play in late afternoons when the sun is dying down.

Take sun protection on your travels

You are more prone to sun burns when you are traveling in the countryside. Take extra sun protection when you visit places at higher altitude or places that have reflecting surfaces such as water and snow. Also avoid tanning. It will help you in protecting your skin from sun.