Cover Up For UV Safety Month!

Happy July!

Can you believe we are already halfway through the year? July marks America’s independence and is full of fireworks and hot temperatures. Rising temps go hand-in-hand with the sun’s potent and potentially damaging rays. Although July is home to a smaller number of health observances as noted below, the one that sticks out in my mind is UV Safety. Did someone say sunscreen?

• Hemochromatosis Awareness Month
• International Group B Strep Awareness Month
• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
• UV Safety Month

Since the skin is the largest organ in our body; protecting us against sunlight, injury, infection, and heat, it makes sense to do what is necessary to preserve and protect it.

Here are some sun-safe tips to keep your skin healthy this summer:

• Wear long sleeves, pants, a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses that wrap around and have at least 99 + UV protection.
• Avoid sunburn, as it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer, by using a broad spectrum sunscreen with both UVA & UVB protection with an SPF of at least 15. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours and after sweating or swimming.
• Go for the shade and stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 am – 4 pm when the sun is strongest.
• Use caution near reflective surfaces like water, snow, sand and even building windows. Also, use caution at higher altitudes as there’s less atmosphere to absorb UV radiation.