Tips to Help You Treat Your Sunburn

Tips to Help You Treat Your Sunburn

Clara Nawfal

June 26th 2021

It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage throughout the year, no matter the weather because sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles), eye damage, and skin cancer.

Lower your risk for sunburn, skin cancer, and early skin aging

Sun damage to the body is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. People of all skin colors are at risk for this damage. You can reduce your risk by:

· Limiting your time in the sun, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

· Use broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF value of 15 or higher. Reapply at least every 2 hours and check the expiration date before you use it. (Broad spectrum offers protection against UVA and UVB rays, two types of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation).

The FDA recommends that you use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.

· Apply sunscreen to all your face, but avoid putting it inside your mouth and eyes, and if you don’t have much hair, apply sunscreen to the top of your head or wear a hat.

· Apply every two hours if you are swimming or sweating.

· No sunscreen is waterproof.

· No sunscreen completely blocks UV radiation. So you have to take other protections such as protective clothing, sunglasses, and staying in the shade.

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