Five Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun
Medically Reviewed By: Catherine Pisano, MD
With summer around the corner, many will be heading to the beach to escape the heat. But before you spend time in the sun, Dana-Farber has a few tips to protect your skin and lower your risk of developing skin cancer.
Do not use tanning booths
Don’t hit the tanning bed for a “base tan” before you hit the beach. Tanning booths contain UVA rays, which can raise the risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Besides, getting a base tan won’t stop you from burning at the beach.
Use protective clothing
It’s easy to forget sun block at home or forget to reapply. Hats and long-sleeved clothing often beat reapplying sunscreen.
Protect yourself with a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap, and don’t be afraid to wear long sleeves or cover-ups. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun as well.
Know your skin
It’s important to know your skin. Fair-skinned people (freckles, blue eyes, red hair, and white skin) are at a higher risk of burning and should be extra careful in the sun. Sunburns, particularly blistering sunburns in your youth, are associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers.
This doesn’t mean people with other skin types won’t burn or develop skin cancer. People with darker skin can still develop melanoma and other skin cancers.
Indeed, people of color have higher mortality rates from skin cancer because the cancers are often caught at a later stage when they are more difficult to treat. You should avoid excess sun even if you have darker skin. And during skin checks, pay especially close attention to your nails and the skin of your hands and feet for any changes or unusual lesions that appear, as these areas are the most common areas to develop melanoma in people with darker skin.
Apply sunscreen
Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every two hours and after sweating or swimming.
Most people don’t put on enough sunscreen. A shot glass (two tablespoons) of sunscreen is needed for your face and the exposed areas of your skin. Mineral sunscreens, easily recognizable by the often chalky appearance they have when applied, offer the most protection because they create a physical separation between you and the sun when it is applied. If you are using a spray, use enough to get an even coating, and rub it in to prevent missed spots. Apply chemical sunscreens 15 minutes prior to sun exposure as these sunscreens work better when absorbed.
Avoid excessive exposure
The sun is strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don’t spend excessive amounts of time in the sun during those hours. This doesn’t mean you must avoid all the summer activities you love. If you spend a long time outside, make sure to use sunblock and reapply every two hours or wear protective clothing.
If you are planning a beach day, try to go earlier or later in the day when the sun isn’t as strong and harmful. Using an umbrella, covering up with hats and protective clothing, and going inside during the middle of the day can also help protect your skin from sun damage.
For more information, please visit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute booth.
