Sun Safety

Lower Your Risk for Sunburn, Skin Cancer, and Early Skin Aging

Sun damage to the body is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunburn is a type of skin damage caused by the sun. Tanning is also a sign of the skin reacting to potentially damaging UV radiation by producing additional pigmentation that provides it with some, but often not enough, protection against sunburn.

Spending time in the sun unprotected increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. People of all skin colors are at risk for this damage. You can reduce your risk by:

• Limiting your time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
• Wearing clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeve shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brim hats. Sun-protective clothing is now available. (The FDA regulates these products only if they are intended to be used for medical purposes.)
• Using broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher regularly and as directed. (Broad-spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, two types of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.)

Consult a health care professional before applying sunscreen to infants younger than 6 months.

In general, the FDA recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days. In addition:

• Apply sunscreen liberally to all uncovered skin, especially your nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and lips.
• Reapply at least every two hours. Apply more often if you’re swimming or sweating. (An average-size adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen, about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass, to evenly cover the body.)
• If you don’t have much hair, apply sunscreen to the top of your head or wear a hat.
• No sunscreen completely blocks UV radiation. So other protections are needed, such as protective clothing, sunglasses, and staying in the shade.
• No sunscreen is waterproof. Check the instructions on your sunscreen for information about its water resistance and reapplication instructions if you are sweating or going in the water.

Only sunscreens in lotion, cream, stick, gel, oil, butter, paste, spray, and powder dosage forms can be legally marketed. Sunscreen in all other dosage forms – including wipes, towelettes, body washes, and shampoos – cannot be legally marketed.

Many spray sunscreen products contain flammable ingredients, like alcohol. Be careful when using these flammable products. Read and follow the warning label, and don’t use these sprays near an open flame, especially around children.

In addition, some spray sunscreens have been recalled because of benzene contamination and shouldn’t be used. Find out here if your sunscreen has been recalled.