More Healthy Wednesday advice from 'Hywel Dda'
This Healthy Wednesday – make sure you have safe fun in the sun
We may have not seen a great deal of sun this summer but this Healthy Wednesday we are reminding you how to stay safe when it does shine!
Sunburn is a clear sign that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds has damaged the DNA in your skin cells.
Getting painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
Most people think about sunburn as something that happens on holiday or in hot, sunny places. But more than half of people suffering sunburn are burnt here in the UK.
And many cases happen when people are out and about, rather than sunbathing.
Don't let sunburn catch you out - here are some handy tips to stay safe:
During the UK summer the sun's UV rays are strongest between 11am and 3pm. Be especially careful about protecting your skin from sunburn during these hours, and spend time in the shade if you’re going to be out for a long time.
UV rays are stronger the higher you go. So if you are planning a mountain hike, make sure you protect yourselves
Even on overcast skies, 30-40% of UV will still penetrate through cloud cover
When buying a sunscreen make sure it has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 with protection against UVA rays - the more stars the better
Apply plenty of sunscreen and reapply it regularly. Sunscreen can be easily washed, rubbed or sweated off
The more skin that is covered by your clothing, the better the protection.
Close weave material, block out the most UV rays. Holding the material up to the light is a good way to see how much light and UV rays will get through.
When some clothes get wet, they stretch and allow more UV rays through to your skin. This is particularly a problem for cotton clothes and a wet cotton t-shirt may only offer half the protection of a dry one.
For more information on staying safe in the sun go to www.sunsmart.org.uk
We may have not seen a great deal of sun this summer but this Healthy Wednesday we are reminding you how to stay safe when it does shine!
Sunburn is a clear sign that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds has damaged the DNA in your skin cells.
Getting painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
Most people think about sunburn as something that happens on holiday or in hot, sunny places. But more than half of people suffering sunburn are burnt here in the UK.
And many cases happen when people are out and about, rather than sunbathing.
Don't let sunburn catch you out - here are some handy tips to stay safe:
During the UK summer the sun's UV rays are strongest between 11am and 3pm. Be especially careful about protecting your skin from sunburn during these hours, and spend time in the shade if you’re going to be out for a long time.
UV rays are stronger the higher you go. So if you are planning a mountain hike, make sure you protect yourselves
Even on overcast skies, 30-40% of UV will still penetrate through cloud cover
When buying a sunscreen make sure it has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 with protection against UVA rays - the more stars the better
Apply plenty of sunscreen and reapply it regularly. Sunscreen can be easily washed, rubbed or sweated off
The more skin that is covered by your clothing, the better the protection.
Close weave material, block out the most UV rays. Holding the material up to the light is a good way to see how much light and UV rays will get through.
When some clothes get wet, they stretch and allow more UV rays through to your skin. This is particularly a problem for cotton clothes and a wet cotton t-shirt may only offer half the protection of a dry one.
For more information on staying safe in the sun go to www.sunsmart.org.uk
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