Tower at Sunset

Protect Yourself and Your Family Year Round

  1. Seek the shade, especially during the sun's peak hours (10:00am-4:00pm).

  2. Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sun damage occurs even on cloudy days.

  3. Cover up with clothing, especially a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.  Use long sleeve rash guards with a high SPF rating if you are on the beach or in the water.

  4. Avoid tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.

  5. Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements.

  6. Keep newborns out of the sun.  Sunscreens can be used on babies over the age of six months.

  7. Check with your doctor to be sure.

  8. Teach children good sun-protective practices.

  9. Examine your skin from head to toe once every month.

  10. Have a professional medical examination annually.

  11. Avoid tanning and especially -- do not burn! One blistering sunburn can double your risk of melanoma.
  • Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can seriously threaten you and your family’s health.
    ­ - Besides the immediate effect of sunburn, long term exposure to excess UV radiation can cause skin cancer, eye damage, immune system suppression, and premature aging.
  • Children are highly susceptible to harmful UV radiation. Approximately 23 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Just one or two blistering sunburns in childhood can double the risk of developing melanoma.
  • Teaching children about sun safety is the key to reducing the risk of future health problems.

For more information on Sun Safety -- go to: 
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention