Protect your skin from the hot Florida sun
By Heidi Rhoades
South Florida Entertainment Exclusive
Living in the Sunshine State gives us ample opportunities to participate in outdoor activities. While our friends and families hibernate during the winter months, we frolic at the beach, stroll through zoos and nature centers and play softball. The upside to this is exercise, fresh air and recreational opportunities galore. The downside is too much sun exposure – especially now when the weather is hot and the sun is even closer.
Each year more than 1 million Americans are treated for skin cancer in varying stages. Growing up in Florida, I have been outside all of my life. In February, at age 31, I had to undergo surgery to have skin cancer removed from my back. Protecting yourself and your children from harmful sun damage is crucial. Luckily there are many products to keep you and your family safe and even be stylish at the same time.
The Sun Cycle
The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible ultraviolet rays. When UV rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning and other skin damage. Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. The ozone blocks UVC rays so UVA and UVB are the rays we need to be concerned with.
Protection
The first form of protection is a chemical called melanin that is in our skin and absorbs UV rays. People with a lighter complexion have less melanin in their skin than darker skinned people. All people, regardless of melanin levels, however, need to ante up to protection, the first being sunscreen.
Sunscreen
When choosing a sunscreen, make sure that the Sun Protection Factor is 15 or higher. Next you can choose what form of sunscreen to buy: spray, a stick or a lotion. Babies under 6 months should not wear SPF and should be exposed to very limited sun light. Sunscreen should ideally be put on 30 minutes prior to going outside and should be reapplied every two hours, more so if you are swimming or perspiring a lot (like at the beach or playing soccer). Remember to apply sunscreen to the back of your child's neck, his ears and lips! Establishing a "lather up" routine of putting on the sunscreen should become a habit similar to brushing your teeth or buckling your safety belt. And remember, your participation counts.
Clothing
The bottom line is that dark, tightly woven fabrics protect the skin better than light, loosely woven fabrics. I remember when we would start getting burned, our parents would put us in tee shirts and let us go back into the pool. The tee shirts tended to be white and when they became wet, the weave of the fabric slackened. The shirts provided absolutely no protection. Today it is common to see children, even infants, sporting what surfers refer to as "rash guards." These are shirts made of bathing suit material that have a mock turtle neck and have sleeves that either go to the elbow or to the wrist. These shirts offer a lightweight and tight weave; many advertise Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50 plus. You can boost the strength of your clothes' UPF absorption by washing them with a product from Sun Guard (www.sunguardsunprotection.com); it actually washes in a chemical sun block that offers UPF 30 and lasts through 20 washes!
Shade
All light is not the same. There are several ways to incorporate "shade" into your outdoor world. Early light and late afternoon light are less harmful than bright sunlight. Arrange outdoor play dates or practices before 10:30 a.m. and then reconvene your alfresco experience around 4 p.m. These times will vary according to season. During the summer, the sun's rays become powerful after 9 a.m. and will remain so until 4:45 p.m. or so. Planning your day around the sun is not always possible or desirable but there are many options available so you can play outside all day long.
A wide-brimmed hat can provide shade around the face and shoulders. Sunglasses (make sure they offer UV protection) shade your eyes, preventing cataracts. And of course, an umbrella can offer a lot of shade depending on the size. A large beach umbrella is perfect for picnics or building sand castles, not to mention outdoor concerts and performances. Small umbrellas typically used for rainy days can also give you shade on the fly and can give you lots of relief from the bright white light of a Florida summer.
If sun protection is a new resolution and you have older children, be sure to let them have a "say" about what glasses or hat they'd like. Tanning salons continue to be popular despite their being even more harmful to the skin than the actual sun. If your teen wants that Hollywood look, let them know that there are alternatives. Tanning sprays have evolved enormously since the days of orange skin; you can pony up $25 for a professional spray tan or choose from dozens of self-tanners at the drugstore. Be sure to pick up a bottle of sunscreen though, too as many self-tanners do not contain any sun protection.
It's important to play outside and experience the natural world, we just need to be careful and protect our body's largest organ, our skin. We have the luxury of outdoor living year-round. Follow the tips for protecting yourself and take advantage of our tropical climate.
Heidi Rhoades is a freelance writer, native Floridian and mother of one. She lives in Boca Raton.