Don’t Get Burned; Enjoy the Summer Sun Worry-Free

By Matt Lepper
As summer officially begins and the weather heats up, people are sure to enjoy the outdoors. But there is a hidden danger that comes with the season: the risk of excessive sun exposure. In order to help Crawfordsville residents stay safe and enjoy their summer, the City of Crawfordsville has compiled information and safety tips.

What are the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure?

When humans are exposed to excessive amounts of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, those UV rays can reach into the inner layers of the skin. When UV rays reach these layers, they can cause skin cells to either die, become damaged or develop cancer.

Furthermore, excess UV rays hitting your skin over time can result in:

• Wrinkles
• Yellowing of the skin
• Dark spots
• Destruction of elastic and collagen fibers
• Precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

What can you do to prevent these outcomes?

1. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside, whether sunny or not. It is a common misconception that you cannot get a sunburn when it is overcast, however the exact opposite is the truth. While not as intense, UV rays can still penetrate through clouds and damage your skin in overcast conditions.
2. Choose a sunscreen that has both UVA and UVB protections with a SPF of at least 30. UVA and UVB are two basic types of ultraviolet rays, named Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburns and can also promote malignant melanoma. UVA rays, on the other hand, penetrate more deeply into the skin and play a major role in premature skin changes such as wrinkle formation. That being said, it is important that your sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB. The American Academy of Dermatology Association deems SPF 30 as the “sweet spot”, as it outperforms SPF 15 in UV ray protection.
3. Remember to reapply. While different sunscreens have different reapplication instructions, the general rule is to reapply sunscreen every two hours.
4. Know the right and wrong times to be exposed. Sunlight exposure is the most intense between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Therefore, if you have the choice, avoid prolonged sun exposure during these hours.
5. Wear protective clothing. While this is the obvious solution, it is important to know that not all articles of clothing protect against the sun in the same way. For example, very thin fabrics that you can see through in direct light will not protect your skin against the sun. Be on the lookout for clothes with tighter weaving of fabrics or even find SPF-specific clothes to wear in the sun.