UV Rays and Sun Protection - Part 2

So now we know a bit about how UV rays can react with our skin, what can we do to protect it from these effects? This is where sun protection comes in. A way to remember how we can protect ourselves is the slip, slop, slap, seek, slide message from the Cancer Council Australia.

Slip on some clothing.

Wear clothes that cover your shoulders, neck, arms, legs and body. Closely woven fabric or fabric with a high UV rating and in dark colours are best.

Slop on some sunscreen.

Use a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. Apply a generous amount roughly 20 minutes prior to exposing yourself to the sun and ensure to reapply every 2 hours or after getting wet e.g. swimming, sweating.

Slap on a hat.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat which shades your face, neck and ears.

Seek some shade.

Use shade from trees, umbrellas, buildings or any type of canopy. UV radiation can be reflected off surfaces, so be wary around concrete, water, sand and snow.

Slide on some sunglasses.

Wear sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067 – they should block UV rays up to 400nm. You should wear your sunglasses year-round to protect your eyes along with the delicate skin around your eyes.

It’s important that you use as many of the sun protection types as possible to give your skin the best protection from the suns UV rays.

While we’re on the topic of best sun protection, what does the SPF rating actually mean? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it gives us an idea of how long we can be in the sun for before getting sunburned. To know how long we can be in the sun for, we first need to gauge how long it takes for our skin to go the slightest shade of pink after being in the sun with no sunscreen on. We then multiply that time with the SPF rating we are intending to use. As an example, say it takes your skin 10 minutes to start turning the slightest shade of pink, if you are using an SPF of 15 you will have 150 minutes of sun protection, if you are using an SPF of 50 you will have 500 minutes of sun protection. This is your total time that you can be in the sun for before you need to seek shade and stop your exposure to the suns UV rays. It is also important that you still reapply your sunscreen every 2 hoursduring your exposure time. Another difference between the SPF ratings is their ability to filter out UVB rays. An SPF 15 filters around 92%, SPF 30 filters around 97%, and SPF 50 filters around 98%. The SPF rating does not relate to protection from UVA rays, but most sunscreens will have ingredients that can protect your from both the UVA and UVB rays.

Despite all of the more harmful effects that we have spoken about, UV radiation is also really important for vitamin D production. It is our only source of natural vitamin D, so it is important to find a balance of sun exposure and sun protection. For most people, around 15 minutes of exposure per day is enough to get our recommended dose. It is best to expose your skin when the UV index is below 3.

Let your therapist know if you have any questions about UV rays or sun protection, until then, stay sun safe!