Monthly Spotlights
Sun Safety: Reduce Your Risk of Skin Cancer
Ask a Sun Safety Expert — Answers
Staff from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Blum Family Resource Center are experts on sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Here, they answer questions from site visitors about safe and sensible ways to enjoy sunshine.
Q: What are the best sun safety precautions for people who enjoy getting some sunlight?
Linda, Barnstable, Mass.
A: Everyone enjoys spending some time in the sun, especially after a long winter! However, excessive sun exposure, particularly during childhood, is a risk factor for skin cancer, so it's important to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays. Limit the time you spend in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. whenever possible. When you are exposed to the sun, wear protective clothing, including a shirt, sunglasses, and a hat (wide-brimmed is best as it shades the entire face, neck, and ears).
Wearing sunscreen will also help protect you, but it doesn't mean you can stay in the sun longer. You can still burn while using sunscreen, especially if it's used incorrectly. Here are some guidelines for sunscreen use:
- Be sure to use sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of at least 15. The higher the number, the better the protection. Also, be sure to check the expiration date on the bottle and discard it when the date passes.
- Put sunscreen on all skin exposed to the sun, including the ears, back and feet. And don't forget about your lips; use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher as well.
- For adults, use at least one ounce of sunscreen (about a palmful, or enough to fill a shot glass) with each application.
- Apply about 20-30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours, especially during peak hours or after swimming or sweating.
Q: Are there repair solutions to a lifetime of sun abuse?
Linda, Barnstable, Mass.
A: Although there are treatments that can repair some of the effects of excessive sun exposure, there is no way to completely reverse or repair this damage. You should speak to your dermatologist about which treatment options might be appropriate for your specific situation.
Even more important is taking steps to prevent further damage by protecting yourself and your family (see recommendations above). People who have suffered excessive sun damage over the course of a lifetime are at increased risk for developing skin cancer, so it's very important to watch for warning signs. You can perform a monthly skin self-exam to check carefully for moles that change in size, shape, or color. See a dermatologist once a year to get a full skin exam.
Q: If you wear a hat and always use sunblock, do you get any vitamin D benefit while sitting on the beach?
D.O'B, Hingham, Mass.
A: Vitamin D offers many health benefits; one way to get vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight. Your body converts UV rays from the sun into vitamin D.
Several factors can affect the body's ability to synthesize vitamin D in this way, including geographic location, season, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin color, and sunscreen use, leaving many people concerned that they might not be getting enough vitamin D.
For most people, a few minutes of sun exposure a few times a week are usually enough to produce sufficient vitamin D levels. Extra vitamin D produced once this level is reached is not stored for future use, so additional sun exposure isn't beneficial from that perspective.
Although sunscreen does block vitamin D-producing UV rays, people generally do not apply sufficient sunscreen, cover all sun-exposed skin, or reapply sunscreen regularly enough to completely block the sun's rays. And your skin is still able to produce some vitamin D even when you wear sunscreen exactly as directed.
Though the sun is important for vitamin D synthesis, it's best to limit your exposure to the sun, since UV damage to your skin can lead to skin cancer and other skin problems. Vitamin D can also be obtained through your diet in the form of certain types of fish, eggs, and fortified milk and cereals and/or oral supplements.
If you're concerned about whether you're getting enough vitamin D, it's a good idea to speak with your health care practitioner.
Do you have a question about sun safety or skin cancer prevention? Ask our expert.
