2 minute read
sun safety
don’t get burned
Sunlight is necessary for human health— it helps your body make the vitamin D needed for strong bones and good mood. The sun’s bright rays also have a dark side: UV radiation exposure can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging.
Advertisement
Fake it, don’t bake it!
Any type of tanning—indoors or outside— results in damage to your skin and increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Although tanning beds have historically been considered “low risk,” some research suggests the chance of developing melanoma increases by as much as 75 percent for those who use tanning beds or sun lamps, especially if regular use begins before age 30.
Sunless tanning products offer a safer alternative to sunbathing and tanning beds. To minimize potential exposure to chemicals in sunless tanning products, choose formulas without preservatives, parabens, or artificial fragrances.
SELECTED SOURCES “Dangers of indoor tanning,” American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org • “Indoor tanning: The risks of ultraviolet rays,” US Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov • “Tanning and your skin,” Skin Cancer Foundation, www.SkinCancer.org, 5/21
Protection plan
Learn how to protect yourself from UV radiation and still enjoy the sun—so you can reap the benefits of the sunshine vitamin! ✹ Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an
SPF or at least 15, or higher, to protect against both ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) and ultraviolet
A radiation (UVA). Both types of radiation can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, and skin aging, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Use sunscreen with a natural mineral base like zinc oxide, which deflects rays. ✹ Apply at least an ounce (about a shot glass) of sunscreen to exposed areas of your body 30 minutes before sun exposure. ✹ Use a lip balm with SPF protection. ✹ If you’ll be swimming, choose a water-resistant sunscreen and apply it about every two hours. ✹ Choose lotions over sprays. Most people do not apply enough spray to reach the desired SPF.
Cool down
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using “a moisturizer that contains aloe vera” to soothe a sunburn.
Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar concurs. “Aloe is truly a remarkable healing agent for burns. It contains rich concentrations of anthraquinones, which promote rapid healing and tissue repair.” According to Gladstar, the gel’s natural sunscreen also blocks up to 30 percent of UV rays.
For an extra healing boost, add a few drops of lavender, chamomile, or calendula essential oil to aloe gel, and refrigerate the goop to enhance its cooling effects. ●
SELECTED SOURCES “Breaking down broad-spectrum protection: Why your sunscreen needs to have it” by Ali Venosa, www.SkinCancer.org, 6/28/18 • “How do I protect myself from ultraviolet (UV) rays?” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, 7/23/19 • “How to treat sunburn,” American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org • “UV radiation,” www.CDC.gov, 6/28/21
Scan here for quick facts on Aloe.
