Uncovering the Truth About Sun Safety Myths – Part One
We’ve grown up with a lot of misconceptions about what does and doesn’t keep our skin safe from sun damage. Even though science has debunked many long-held beliefs about sun safety, we find it hard to shake our belief in certain myths.
If your knowledge of correct sun safety is a little hazy, here are the facts from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
- Just five sunburns double your risk of melanoma; and we’re not talking about 5 sunburns over the course of a summer, but 5 sunburns in your entire lifetime! Sun damage affects skin at the cellular level, permanently interfering with the cells’ DNA. As damage increases with time and repeated exposure, genetic mutations may become cancerous.
- Laying in a base tan at the tanning salon or on the beach is the equivalent of wearing SPF 2 or 3 sunscreen. In other words, a base tan doesn’t provide any real protection against the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. If you want to add a little “I just got back from the Bahamas” color to your face, brush on one of this year’s new shimmery bronzers. Infused with light-reflecting particles, they diffuse color, giving skin a healthy glow. Also look for products that provide SPF 15 protection.
- Don’t skip sunscreen in the morning or winter. It’s true that UVB rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April through October; but UVA rays, the ones that penetrate deep into the skin and are responsible for aging, wrinkles and skin cancer, are present any time it’s light outside, even on cloudy days and during the winter.
Take care of your skin with a physician-prescribed skin health program and cosmetics that are the right fit for your skin-type. Check with your Cleveland Cosmetic Surgeon for recommended products to target your individual skin-care needs.
More myths debunked next time...