ProtectYourSkin - GOTB - Get On The Bus

PROTECT YOUR SKIN

Outdoor Activities are a key part of any healthy lifestyle. Getting outside for even a brief period each day keeps us healthy. Taking the proper steps to prepare yourself before heading outdoors helps to shield your skin from the Sun’s harmful UV rays that cause damage and can even lead to skin cancer. Taking a few moments to apply sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing helps keep you sun-safe

If I apply a sunscreen with double the SPF, will my protection from damaging UV rays double?

Below is the approximate percentage of UVB rays blocked depending on SPF rating. The difference seems minimal, but a higher SPF helps if you are fair skinned or have a history of skin cancer. Remember, no sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays.

What's the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays and are primarily responsible for premature skin aging and wrinkling. UVA rays have also been shown to cause more skin damage at the cellular level. UVB rays damage the outer layers of the skin. They are the main cause of sunburn and play a key role in the development of skin cancer. A broad spectrum sunscreen protectsyour skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Isn't it good for me to get sun without any sunscreen to absorb Vitamin D?

20 minutes of daily sunlight (without sunscreen) gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin D, which is essential for good health.

Athletes and Sun

Many sports involve spending hours outside being exposed to the sun. It is important to take measures to protect your athletes from sunburn. Damage from sunburn lasts a lifetime and has a cumulative effect on your body. According to Cleveland Clinic dermatologists, about half of the sun exposure we get in a lifetime is before age 18.

To decrease the risk of skin cancer, teach your athletes to:

Apply sunscreen at least 20-30 minutes before going outdoors.
Put on 1-2 golf ball-sized amounts of sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30.
Cover all exposed areas, including ears, lips, face, and back of hands.
Reapply sunscreen at least every 90 minutes.

Sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer in many outdoor sports, and young athletes rarely use sunscreen.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun exposure is estimated to be one of the most important risk factors for nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers.

Athletes practicing outdoor sports receive considerable UV doses because of training and competition schedules with high sun exposure, and in alpine sports, the altitude-related increase of UV radiation and reflection from snow- and ice-covered surfaces.

In several published studies, it’s been shown that only about 20% of outdoor sports athletes routinely use proper sunscreen for daytime practices and games.