Safe Fun in the Sun

As we head into the last full month of summer most of us will try to spend as much time outdoors as we can soaking up the warmth of the sun.  That’s one of the very reasons we choose to live at the “Jersey Shore”, right?  The sand?  The beaches?  The boardwalks?  While spending time in the sun provides us with a healthy dose of Vitamin D, it’s important for us to take precautions when we’re outside for extended periods of time because the sun’s UV rays are harmful if we are exposed to them for too long. Here are some tips for being safe in the sun:

Time Limit - As a rule of thumb, limit exposure to UV rays during the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; this includes driving your car.  The sun’s UV rays can be magnified through car windshields, bathing your face, arms, hands and chest more than you may realize.  A suggestion offered on the American Cancer Society’s website regarding this is that if you are unsure about the sun's intensity, use the shadow test: if your shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are the strongest, and protection from the sun is most important.

Seek Shade – When you are outdoors, seek a location where you can sit or stand in the shade once you’ve had enough sun. Remember that water, sand (and snow in the winter) reflect and intensify the sun’s rays, increasing your chance of sunburn.

Put Your Best Face Forward – Use face moisturizers and make- up that have SPF in them; using these kinds of products, provided you don’t have allergic tendencies, is a great way to protect your face without using a ton of different products.

Wear Dark Colors – Surprised?  I was when I first read this.  Summer-weight
light-colored cover-ups are fashionable and often make us “feel” cooler, but they actually allow more of the sun’s rays onto our skin than we might know, protecting us only minimally, according to the American Cancer Society. The ACS recommends wearing dark colors, fabrics with tight weaves and specially treated garments and bathing suits for more healthy sun exposure.

Baby the Babies – To protect babies younger than six months, the American Cancer Society recommends shade, sun-protective clothing and hats. As a last resort, many pediatricians now say that very small amounts of sunscreen can be used on small areas, such as baby’s face and back of the hands.  I recommend you check with your pediatrician first, however.

Go Incognito – Wear and wide-brimmed hat and UV-protected sunglasses when outdoors.

Lather on the Sunscreen – There are many types of sunscreens available on the market today.  And, not only are there many different types, sunscreens also come in a variety of protection ratings.  The SPF number of a sunscreen describes how long a product will protect your skin, but only if you reapply every two hours, after going in water, toweling off or sweating during exercise.  It’s also important  to apply a thick enough layer of sunscreen to be sure you’re getting the amount of protection you expect.

If you follow the recommendations I’ve suggested, in addition to applying some good old fashioned common sense, you’ll enjoy some fun in the sun for the remainder of the summer and for years to come as you will be protecting yourself from harmful UV rays.

If you’d like more information on how to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays click here to be directed to a great article, ”How do I protect myself from UV rays?”, on the American Cancer Society’s website:  http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/MoreInformation/SkinCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/skin-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-u-v-protection

Yours in health and fitness,
Kellyann 

Kellyann Skorupski owns and teaches classes at The Jazzercise Fitness Center of Wall, 1985 Highway 34, Wall, NJ.  You can get information on her center and the group fitness classes offered there by visiting www.jazznj.com or on Facebook by clicking here.