Now that school is over and your family is home for the season, there are endless ways to spend your days. Whether you enjoy relaxing days out by the pools, desire quality time on a sandy beach, or need a mountain getaway, you and your family are in for a summer full of adventure. Whichever way you make memories this summer, don’t forget to pay a visit to Ed Snell’s Pharmacy Shop. We carry several products in our summer section that you will need for the most fun and safety this summer.
Staying Safe in the Summer Sun
The sun gives off necessary warmth but can also pose a danger to your health. Sunlight is a type of ultraviolet light, also known as UV light. UV rays that reach the earth’s surface are either UVA or UVB:
UVA rays make up 95% of the rays that reach the earth.
UVB rays make up the remaining 5%.
While it might seem like this information isn’t applicable to you, your skin is absorbing UV rays, just like the earth. Most times, this harmful absorption causes tans or sunburns. Excess exposure to UVA & UVB rays can cause:
Skin damage
Skin cancers
Skin blisters
No matter your skin color, you are still susceptible to skin damage from the sun. The Fitzpatrick Scale, shown below, is a classification system for skin types and their reaction to UV rays.
While sun exposure is inevitable, you can buy products to heal and prevent further damage:
Aloe vera gel – soothes and heals your sunburns.
Hats & Sunglasses – provide well-needed cover from sun exposure.
Sunscreen – helps filter UV rays from the sun to protect your skin from damage.
Proper Sunscreen Usage
With each sunscreen purchase from Ed Snell’s Pharmacy Shop, you will always spot the SPF letters on the packaging. SPF is the abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor. SPF measures a product's protection against UV rays and sun damage. Dermatologists recommend using sunscreens with approximately SPF 30 when outdoors. While there may be sunscreens with an SPF as high as 70, it’s important to be aware of how much sun protection you’ll get from each level of SPF.
SPF level | Level of protection from UVB Rays |
SPF 15 | 93% |
SPF 30 | 97% |
SPF 50 | 98% |
SPF 100 | 98.3% |
While you might assume that a higher SPF means more sun protection, sunscreens with a level over 30 don’t have significantly better protection. This information is helpful to keep in mind when you’re purchasing sunscreen at Ed Snell’s Pharmacy Shop.
Essential Factors to Keep in Mind When Applying Sunscreen
It’s important to remember that reapplication is crucial for sun safety this summer. Even if products claim to be water-resistant, you and your family should still use sunscreen throughout the day since water and sweat interfere with sunscreen effectiveness.
No matter where the day takes you, make sure you use sunscreen on your face, neck, arms, legs, and lips too! Many companies now make lip balms with sunscreen in them.
Always make sure you and your loved ones check product expiration dates. Topical products lose efficacy over time, and we are readily available to help you locate the expiration date for the best protection from the sun.
Sun Safety Beyond the Beach
Sunscreen should be packed anytime you expect to be outside. While most people use sunscreen at the pool and beach, there are a number of other places where sunscreen is vital for your health, including:
Driving
Attending an outdoor wedding
Camping
Visiting a water park
Fishing
Yardwork
Exercising outside
Along with using sunscreens, any time you expect sun exposure, it’s important to remember to stay hydrated, seek shade when possible, and take periodic breaks. Ed Snell’s Pharmacy Store wants to make sure you enjoy your time outdoors this season. Be sure to see us before your next outdoor activity to ensure you don’t have to feel the burn this summer!