Somerset County Urges Residents To Practice Sun Safety

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — While enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine, the Somerset County Department of Health urges residents to protect their skin and practice safety from the sun.

The following are a few recommendations for safe ways to be in the sun and enjoy the outdoors:

• Cover up with clothing, including:
  • A broad-brimmed hat (with a brim of 2 to 3 inches) to cover face, ears, and the back of the neck.
  • Ultraviolet ray (UV)-blocking sunglasses (wrap around preferably).
  • Clothes made of tightly woven fabrics in dark or bright colors.
• Avoid tanning. Never use tanning beds; a single use, before the age of 35, increases your risk of melanoma by 75%. Learn the risks of tanning from the Skin Cancer Foundation and surprising facts about indoor tanning.
• Seek shade, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. When your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
• Do not get sunburned.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. The risk for melanoma, the more serious and deadliest form of skin cancer, doubles after more than five sunburns.

The following are important tips for sunscreen use:

• Select a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher:
  • Water-resistant does not mean waterproof or sweatproof.
  • Reapply every 2 hours OR after swimming or sweating.
  • An SPF of 30 or higher is recommended for extended time outdoors.
• Use about an ounce of sunscreen (about the size of a shot glass or medicine cup).
• Apply to all skin not covered by sun-protective clothing at least 15 minutes before going outside, including the neck, hands, and feet.

The two types of sunscreens are physical, or mineral, and chemical sunscreen.

• Physical, or mineral, sunscreen:
  • Acts like a shield for the skin.
  • Deflects the sun’s rays before seeping through the skin.
  • Active ingredients include zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide; minerals that are chemically derived.
  • Good choice for sensitive skin.
    
• Chemical sunscreen:
  • Acts like a sponge by absorbing the sun’s rays before damaging the skin.
  • Active ingredients include oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octisalate.
  • Usually, this type of sunscreen rubs into the skin more easily without a white residue.

Worldwide, some places restrict the use of certain types of sunscreens. For more information, visit the US Food & Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Due to sun damage to the skin being cumulative, it is necessary to pay close attention to children that are often outdoors and burn more easily. Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months, so it is important to keep them out of direct sunlight and in the shade. It is recommended to dress them in protective clothing, including hats with a wide brim. Babies older than six months, toddlers, and older children should wear UV-blocking sunglasses and not toy sunglasses.

Although a tan after a vacation is often admired, the tan is an indication of damage to the skin by the sun’s rays, which injures the DNA in your skin. Adopt the sun safe measures above to protect and keep the skin healthy. Enjoying the outdoors and engaging in outdoor activities can be done while also protecting from sun damage.

Multiple online resources are available to find out more information. Please visit the American Academy of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Foundation, and American Academy of Pediatrics.

The Morris-Somerset Regional Chronic Disease Coalition is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Office of Cancer Control and Prevention and is administered by the Somerset County Department of Health.

This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.