Don’t Forget the Sunscreen!

July is Ultraviolet Safety Awareness Month

It’s fun to be out in the sun, but remember to protect yourself against those less fun things the sun brings: sunburns and damage. July is peak summer weather, and as we spend more time outside, remember to lather on that sunscreen!

Our hot and cold relationship with the sun

While UV waves from the sun have benefits like creating Vitamin D for us, it also has downsides. UV Light is a form of radiation that can damage the DNA in our cells. Whenever it is daytime, and the sun is up, even if you can’t see it, UV light reaches Earth’s surface. Meaning you can get a sunburn even on a cloudy day! These rays damage our skin and eyes, and the longer you are exposed, the higher your risk of sun damage. The obvious ones are sunburns and wrinkles, but skin cancer, cataracts, cornea damage, and vision loss are all negative effects of too much UV exposure.

How to best protect yourself from sun damage

Sunscreen, sunglasses, and shade are your best defense against harmful UV rays. Hats and other clothing that cover up as much skin as possible are also beneficial. If the UV index is 3 or higher, protective clothing and sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher are highly recommended.

Bottom line — enjoy the summer weather, but don’t forget the sunscreen! Pick up a bottle today from Forward Pharmacy.