How to Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Shade

You can reduce your risk of sun damage and skin cancer by staying in the shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you are outside , even when you are in the shade.






Clothing

When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts, which can provide protection from UV rays. If wearing this type of clothing is not practical, try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Some clothing is certified under international standards as offering UV protection.







Hat

For the most protection, wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection. If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen, or staying in the shade.







Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

Sun Safety Tips for Schools

Recess and other outdoor activities during the day can put students at risk if their skin is not protected from too much exposure to the sun. Teachers and school administrators can take steps to protect students from getting skin cancer later in life.

Increase Shade

  • Provide shade structures or trees.
  • Move outdoor activities to shaded areas.
  • Plan for shade when developing or renovating school buildings, playgrounds, or athletic fields.

Promote Sun-Safe Behaviors

  • Encourage students to wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen outdoors.
  • Try to avoid scheduling outdoor activities when the sun is strongest.
  • Provide breaks during outdoor activities so that students can reapply.