It’s the most wonderful time… of the year…
NOT FOUND: getting to bottom.jpgI know it’s a Christmas song, but I also sing it in summer. While I absolutely love the Christmas season, my truly favorite time of year is summer. Instead of Joy to the World, I’m humming Beach Boys songs.
Perhaps childhood memories of great family vacations, neighborhood hide and seek games, picnics at the beach, running through the sprinklers, little league baseball and, of course, chasing the ice cream man, create an anticipation of a super season of fun in the sun. Whatever the reason, I continue to enjoy summer and do as much as I can outdoors.
This time of year seems to bring out the adventurous, outdoorsy, nature-loving, go-getter in many of us. Many take up walking, hiking, cycling and different summer sports. We seem to wake up from our long winter naps and have this surge of energy while becoming weekend warriors. From gardening to water-skiing, we are outdoors enjoying the warmth of the sun.
We all need some sun exposure; it’s our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn’t take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and even cancer. Even people in their twenties can develop skin cancer.
Most kids rack up between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it’s important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child’s chance of developing skin cancer.
FACTS ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE
Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. A UVA tan does not help protect the skin from further sun damage; it merely produces color and a false sense of protection from the sun.
UVB rays are also dangerous, causing sunburns, eye damage and immune system damage. They also contribute to skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but enough of these rays pass through to cause serious damage.
UVC rays are the most dangerous, but fortunately, these rays are blocked by the ozone layer and don’t reach the earth.
What’s important is to protect your family from exposure to UVA and UVB, the rays that cause skin damage.
So, let’s be wise with our skin this summer. Protect and preserve by using sunscreen. Realize, too, that the rays can reach your skin through car windows. Get in the habit of putting on sunscreen every day, even if you don’t think you are being exposed to the sun.
If you or your children are involved in any physical activity, especially swimming, please re-apply frequently.
Enjoy this summer and prevent skin and eye damage by covering up, lathering up and wearing a hat, visor and sunglasses. See you at the pool!