Our recent weather has gotten me out in the lawn to cut grass, pick flowers, and plan for spring. For me, my lawn is a labor of love, repaying me in dividends of pride and a sense of accomplishment that is contagious in the neighborhood. Last week, I took a few extra minutes to sit out on the deck and admire the fruits of my labor while enjoying the feel of the summer sun warming my skin. The birds were singing as they frolicked in the yard—with the dogwoods budding, the grass a greening, and the wind a blowing—ahhhhhh, spring is in the air.
Spring’s arrival also brings baseball, swimming, fishing, boating, and gardening—to name a few activities we all enjoy. With these fun times in our lives come hot summer days, bathing suits, and lots of sun. As with anything, too much of a good thing can be bad for us, and the sun is no exception. But, there are positive aspects to sun exposure. Because of its warming effects and visible light, the sun has a positive effect on our mental health and feelings of well being. The sun’s UVA rays stimulate the skin’s production of vitamin D, which is necessary for normal composition, growth, and regeneration of bone tissue. One study I read suggests 15 minutes of sun exposure for fair-skinned people and about three times as long for darker skin tones. However, I believe there are risks and benefits, so discuss your individual sun exposure and lifestyle with your healthcare provider.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common form of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer and the most dangerous. Sixty-five to ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight. In 2006, 53,919 people in the United States were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin—30,560 of them were men and 23,359 of them were women. In that same year, 8,441 people in the United States died of melanomas of the skin—5,477 were men and 2,964 were women. One American dies every hour from melanoma.
Slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light (American Cancer Society). When out in the sun, it is important to realize that a typical light T-shirt has less protection from the sun’s harmful rays than sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Slop on the sunscreen; remember sunscreens do not give you total protection. If you correctly apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, you still get the equivalent of 1 minute of UVB rays for each 15 minutes spent in the sun. Make sure to check the expiration date on your sunscreen, follow the label directions, and apply generously to dry skin at least 20 minutes before going outside to maximize absorption and protection. Apply about 1 ounce of sunscreen (about a palm full) to cover legs, arms, neck, and face for the average adult. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 2 hours and even more often if swimming or sweating. Slap on the hat (brim 2 to 3 inches) to protect your neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. Wrap on UV-blocking sunglasses to help protect your eyes.
So, before you dive into the activities of your life this spring and summer, “Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap.” Seek shade, especially when the UV rays are the strongest: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Do these things and you will look better and live longer in the skin you’re in.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please e-mail me at: howard@howardsbaker.com
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