Summer is here. And, with it, comes an abundance of outdoor activities. With so much time spent in the sun, it’s a good idea to get a refresher on how to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Wear plenty of sunscreen every day. Your sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and say broad-spectrum (meaning it protects against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays). You should apply 15 minutes prior to going outside and reapply every 2 hours.
Wear sunglasses. Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to eye damage. Look for quality sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays and shade 75-90% of visible light.
Avoid being out in the sun for long periods. The sun is at its most powerful between 10am and 2pm. This does not mean the sun is not powerful before 10 and after 2, but you should be more diligent about your sun exposure during the high times of the day.
Check your skin regularly for suspicious looking moles. It’s a good practice to know what your skin looks like normally so you will notice any changes or new growths on your skin right away.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Each year in the US, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer and melanoma accounts for up to 3% of pediatric cancers. Unfortunately, 40% of diagnoses and treatments for childhood melanoma is delayed.
This is just one more reason Marc’s continues to support
Kick-It for Cancer. By helping raise money for this program, more research can be done for pediatric cancer, including skin cancer. You can continue to make donations on our
pledge page or make your donation on your next trip to your favorite
Marc’s store!
Trust
Marc’s for all your sun protection needs. In addition to sunscreen, we sell hats, sunglasses and umbrellas to offer that extra sun protection.
Tell us, how do you stay safe in the sun? Sound off in the comments section below!