Sun Protection Tips for the Outdoor Enthusiast
Canadian Trails
Ultraviolet Rays
Long-term exposure to the sun's rays can lead to skin cancer, premature aging of the skin and eye cataracts. However, a limited amount of sun can be beneficial for it creates Vitamin D, necessary for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D is also considered to be effective in the prevention of certain types of cancer.
The harmful portion of the sun's are located within the ultraviolet spectrum: UVA, UVB and UVC. Most of the UV rays are blocked by the earth's atmosphere but some make it to the earth's surface.
All UV rays cause premature aging of the skin but only UVB rays darken the skin and cause skin cancer. UVB rays are blocked mainly by the ozone layer. With the increasing depletion of the ozone layer caused by chemicals such as CFCs there has been a corresponding rise in skin cancer cases. More than 1 million non-malignant melanomas and over 100,000 malignant melanomas occur each year worldwide.
UV exposure increases with higher altitudes and with lower latitudes (close to the equator). UV rays are most intense in the middle of the day, from 10AM to 2PM. In Canada the highest UV index generally occurs in May and June.
When spending long hours in the sun it is very important to provide some form of sun protection: sunscreen, a hat, clothing and sunglasses. Each of these are only partially effective in blocking the sun so there will always be some rays reaching your body.
Babies and young children are particularly sensitive to sun exposure and should be protected as much as possible from the sun's rays, especially during the most intense periods of sunshine.
Don't forget to protect your skin in winter and on cloudy days. Reflection from snow and water can increase the intensity of the sun's rays by up to 80%. Clouds block only a small fraction of the sun's rays, making it possible to get sun burnt even on a cloudy day.
Sun Protective Clothing
Clothing can provide some protection against the sun but not all clothing protects to the same degree. Some lightweight clothing provides protection equivalent to an SPF rating of 8 or less. To provide consumers with a better idea of the sun protection capability of clothing the Canadian Dermatology Association has adopted the Sun Protection Evaluation Program. Clothing manufacturers can use SPEP standards to rate their products, ranging from 15 (good) to 50 (excellent).
Hats will only provide limited protection from the sun, especially baseball-type hats. Even with a broad-brimmed hat there is still a fair amount of exposure to the nose and ears.
Sunscreen Lotion
Choose a brand that offers broad spectrum protection to block UVA and UVB rays.
Buy a lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. SPF is a measure of the sun's rays that are blocked by the lotion. A rating of 15 means that under ideal applications a lotion will permit 15 times as long an exposure as without protection.
Check the expiry date of the lotion. As it ages sunscreen lotion becomes less effective at protecting the skin.
Apply the lotion at least 30 minutes prior to going in the sun.
Don't skimp with the amount you use. Depending on how much of your skin is exposed, it can take up to about 1 ounce (30 ml) of lotion to provide sufficient sun protection for an adult. Be sure to apply to the ears, neck and top of the head (especially those people with short hair or bald patches).
Re-apply the lotion after a few hours or after going swimming.
Sunglasses
Choose good quality sunglasses that are labeled 100% UV protection. Dark coloured glasses may not offer more protection than clear lenses, especially if they are not rated 100%. They may actually increase exposure to UV rays by permitting more rays to enter the eye.
Choose wrap-around glasses so that more rays are blocked from the periphery of the eye. They also add a coolness factor.
Regular glasses and contact lenses can also be ordered with a UV coating to reduce UV exposure.
Resources
Canadian Dermatology Association- provides Sun Sense tips
Environment Canada- UV Index forecast
Ultraviolet Light - Wikipedia description of ultraviolet rays.
UV Index - World Health Organization facts on UV rays
Canadian Trails
Ultraviolet Rays
Long-term exposure to the sun's rays can lead to skin cancer, premature aging of the skin and eye cataracts. However, a limited amount of sun can be beneficial for it creates Vitamin D, necessary for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D is also considered to be effective in the prevention of certain types of cancer.
The harmful portion of the sun's are located within the ultraviolet spectrum: UVA, UVB and UVC. Most of the UV rays are blocked by the earth's atmosphere but some make it to the earth's surface.
All UV rays cause premature aging of the skin but only UVB rays darken the skin and cause skin cancer. UVB rays are blocked mainly by the ozone layer. With the increasing depletion of the ozone layer caused by chemicals such as CFCs there has been a corresponding rise in skin cancer cases. More than 1 million non-malignant melanomas and over 100,000 malignant melanomas occur each year worldwide.
UV exposure increases with higher altitudes and with lower latitudes (close to the equator). UV rays are most intense in the middle of the day, from 10AM to 2PM. In Canada the highest UV index generally occurs in May and June.
When spending long hours in the sun it is very important to provide some form of sun protection: sunscreen, a hat, clothing and sunglasses. Each of these are only partially effective in blocking the sun so there will always be some rays reaching your body.
Babies and young children are particularly sensitive to sun exposure and should be protected as much as possible from the sun's rays, especially during the most intense periods of sunshine.
Don't forget to protect your skin in winter and on cloudy days. Reflection from snow and water can increase the intensity of the sun's rays by up to 80%. Clouds block only a small fraction of the sun's rays, making it possible to get sun burnt even on a cloudy day.
Sun Protective Clothing
Clothing can provide some protection against the sun but not all clothing protects to the same degree. Some lightweight clothing provides protection equivalent to an SPF rating of 8 or less. To provide consumers with a better idea of the sun protection capability of clothing the Canadian Dermatology Association has adopted the Sun Protection Evaluation Program. Clothing manufacturers can use SPEP standards to rate their products, ranging from 15 (good) to 50 (excellent).
Hats will only provide limited protection from the sun, especially baseball-type hats. Even with a broad-brimmed hat there is still a fair amount of exposure to the nose and ears.
Sunscreen Lotion
Choose a brand that offers broad spectrum protection to block UVA and UVB rays.
Buy a lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. SPF is a measure of the sun's rays that are blocked by the lotion. A rating of 15 means that under ideal applications a lotion will permit 15 times as long an exposure as without protection.
Check the expiry date of the lotion. As it ages sunscreen lotion becomes less effective at protecting the skin.
Apply the lotion at least 30 minutes prior to going in the sun.
Don't skimp with the amount you use. Depending on how much of your skin is exposed, it can take up to about 1 ounce (30 ml) of lotion to provide sufficient sun protection for an adult. Be sure to apply to the ears, neck and top of the head (especially those people with short hair or bald patches).
Re-apply the lotion after a few hours or after going swimming.
Sunglasses
Choose good quality sunglasses that are labeled 100% UV protection. Dark coloured glasses may not offer more protection than clear lenses, especially if they are not rated 100%. They may actually increase exposure to UV rays by permitting more rays to enter the eye.
Choose wrap-around glasses so that more rays are blocked from the periphery of the eye. They also add a coolness factor.
Regular glasses and contact lenses can also be ordered with a UV coating to reduce UV exposure.
Resources
Canadian Dermatology Association- provides Sun Sense tips
Environment Canada- UV Index forecast
Ultraviolet Light - Wikipedia description of ultraviolet rays.
UV Index - World Health Organization facts on UV rays
