Summer Is Here: Don’t Forget to Protect your Skin

Warm weather has arrived, and summer vacation season is well underway. Basking in the warm glow of the sun can make us feel great, and in the short term, make us look good. In the long term, however, over-exposure to ultraviolet rays damages the fibers in the skin. Effects of sun exposure put us at higher risk of cellular damage, age spots, early wrinkling, and skin cancer.

The summer season is a great reminder to use sunscreen whenever outdoors, but protection from UV radiation is important all year round.

Truck Driver’s Skin Damaged by Sun

A 69-year-old man who spent the last 28 years as a truck driver was diagnosed with skin damage. Since the man spent countless daylight hours behind the wheel and was over-exposed to damaging ultraviolet (UVA) rays, the left side of his face looks decades older than the right side. The name for his condition is unilateral dermatoheliosis (one-sided photoaging). This case is a clear indication that, even with the window closed, the sun’s rays can penetrate glass if it’s not tinted enough to protect passengers inside the vehicle.

The previous example is just a reminder that UV rays can reflect off of surfaces like water and glass. Harmful UVA rays can also reach you on cloudy and hazy days.

How to Protect Your Skin from the Sun

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends easy options for protection from UVA radiation:

• Seek shade, especially between 10:00 am–3:00 pm.
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin. If you can see light through a fabric, UVA rays can get through, too. Be aware that covering up doesn’t block out all UVA rays
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible
• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends products with a SPF of at least 30
• Avoid indoor tanning

The sun’s UVA rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Apply sunscreen before going outside, even on slightly cloudy days, and reapply if you stay outside for more than two hours.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer from Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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