Staying Safe in the Sun
More than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of skin cancer, and it's not just a summertime worry. Keep you and your family safe all year round by following a few simple tips while out in the sun.
Stay Safe in the Sun
Here are a few tips for staying safe in the sun:
- 10 am-3pm are the most dangerous times to be out in the sun
- Use sunscreen liberally and often. Sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 applied at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure offers the best protection.
- You can get sunburned on cloudy and wintry days. Up to 80 percent of UV radiation comes though cloud cover.
- Skin damage begins as soon as the skin is exposed to the sun…not just with a sunburn
- Never use sunlamps, tanning booths, tanning pills or sun accelerators
- Use sunglasses that offer broad spectrum ultraviolet (UVA/UVB) protection
Skin Cancer Q and A
A UW Health dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon offers some sensible tips to help prevent sunshine from causing serious health problems.