Why should you protect your skin from the sun?

To thrive we need the sun, and sunlight is very important in treating skin diseases and providing vitamin D. However, like most things in life, the sun needs to be enjoyed in moderation because its rays can be very harmful to the skin. In fact, over exposure to the sun could cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, skin texture changes and dilated blood vessels besides the dreaded skin cancer.

The sun radiates UV which is very harmful. The radiation enters our skin and permanently damages the cells making us more prone to skin cancer. Skin Cancer is the currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer. In the UK alone, there are thousands of new cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually.

The riskier group of people tends to be the lighter skinned fair group. This group also includes the light eyed and light haired and those with a family history of cancers. The lighter your skin tone, the higher your chances of getting sun burnt and causing permanent damage to your skin. That said, dark skinned people are still at risk from skin cancer but they are less at risk because they have natural protection from the sun.

Here are 4 ways we can protect ourselves from the sun.

• Stay away from the sun especially in the middle of the day (approximately from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) when the sun is at its hottest.
• Block. Use sunscreen lotions or those with Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Using SPF 60 or higher is recommended. Ideally the sunscreen contains UVA and UVB protection. Reapply the product as to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Cover up. Hats, sunglasses, sun visors and protective clothing will provide effective barrier to sunlight.
• Speak out. Help promote awareness regarding sun protection and the dangers of too much sunlight.