Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sun Protection Basics

By Byron Jonas

One of the most important preventative health measures that we can practice is protecting ourselves from the sun. This is highly important especially for those of us who enjoy participating in outdoor activities and for families with children involved in school sports. Teaching your children how to enjoy the sun safely is one of the most important lessons a parent can give.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from the suns powerful rays is to prevent sun damage before it happens with a bit of prevention. When summertime comes around and the sun comes out, your kids are likely to be thinking about one thing only: getting outside and having fun! It's up to you as parents to educate your young ones about sun protection and the dangers of over-exposure.

Summer sun can be quite enticing; it's during this time of year when everyone just can't wait to get outside and enjoy the great weather. Whatever your favorite sport or outdoor activity, a sunny day always seems to be the perfect day to get out in the fresh air. Before sending your kids out to play this summer, take the time to make sure they do so safely.

Over-exposure to the sun is the cause of a number of short and long-term health effects, a fact that is often overlooked as the sun just feels so good! The most rapidly occurring negative effect that the sun has on our bodies is sunburn, which can vary across a wide spectrum of pain and intensity, the most severe cases even leading to hospitalization.

Another typical side effect which many people would be happy to avoid is premature wrinkling and aging of the skin. Although your kids are hardly thinking about preserving their youth, it's never too early to warn them about this long-term effect caused by too much sun.

Skin cancer is yet another much more serious long-term effect of too much sun. Although in the past, it may have been seen a sign of beauty to have perfectly tanned skin, we now know better. The risks of over-exposure from the sun are far too great to sacrifice our skin's health just to have a golden glow. It is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our kids from the sun's rays all year round and even more so during the summer months and school sports seasons.

Staying protected on sunny days isn't even enough; the sun can still pose a potential threat on cloudy days when you are least expecting it. It is still possible to get a sunburn on an overcast day, making it even more important to protect your skin all year round.

It is much better to play it safe when protecting ourselves and our families from the sun. Experts advise using sun protection techniques anytime you are outside, which is a good rule to follow. It is also a good idea to use a daily moisturizer that has a SPF; this will protect your face every day from the damage-causing UV rays of the sun.

Make sure to share these sun protection tips with your entire family, especially kids that will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Enjoy the summer sun safely and wisely, your skin will thank you for it.

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