UV Safety Awareness

July marks UV Safety Awareness Month, an awareness event created to highlight the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the importance o protecting yourself from UV rays and how sun safety practices that you can incorporate into your daily routine. As July is often one of the hottest months of the year, this time period is when you should be most careful as sun exposure is at its peak.

While vitamin D is also important to ensure a health well-being, it is important to have the correct balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

The Risks of Excessive UV Exposure

The over exposure to UV radiation can results in several different effects on your health including:

Sunburn
Premature aging (such as wrinkles and age spots)
Increase risk of skin cancer
Eye damage (increasing the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions)

Sun Safety Tips

You can still burn even when the weather is cloudy, windy or generally cool. Did you know that 90% of UV rays pass through cloud? In the UK the sun is strongest from March to October, specifically between 11 AM and 3 PM. During these times, try to avoid direct sunlight and spend time in shaded areas. Other ways that you can protect yourself include:

Cover yourself up with suitable clothing and accessories; Wearing long sleeves to protect your arms, sunglasses to protect your eyes and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and face.
Use trees or umbrellas to seek shade when outside during peak times.
Apply sun cream to areas that aren’t covered; recommended minimum of SPF 30 with 4 to 5 stars and apply regularly throughout the day.

Swimming and sun cream

While being in water may make you feel cooler after being out in the sun, however not only does the water wash off your sun cream, it also reflects the UV rays, increasing your exposure. If you know you’ll be around water or are going to sweat, try using water resistant sun cream and reapply after getting out of the water/towel drying as it may have rubbed off.

It’s imperative to acknowledge the dangers of ultraviolet radiation and the necessity of sun protection, while also balancing it with vitamin D intake. Stay safe, enjoy the sun responsibly, and make UV safety a priority this summer.