How to Protect Your Skin From the Memorial Day Sun

It’s heating up in San Diego County, which means people are going to be hitting the beach, , amusement parks and other outdoor entertainment—especially for . While there really isn’t anything better than a sunny San Diego day, there is one thing you should never leave home without: sunscreen.

Research has shown that wearing sunscreen can protect our skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can cause painful and damaging sunburns. Everyone should wear sunscreen, but people with light skin, blue eyes, and skin types susceptible to burns should pay extra attention to how much sunscreen they apply.

When you go to the store, there are so many different brands and types of sunscreen to choose from, how do you know what type of sunscreen to use? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should select a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB ray, is water resistant, and has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. After that, it’s really up to your personal choice and skin type.

The American Academy of Dermatology also suggests wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, especially where your clothing doesn’t cover your skin, like on your face, neck, ears, and hands. If you are headed to the pool or beach, be sure to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. You should also be reapplying sunscreen every two hours. Even sunscreen that is water resistant can lose its effectiveness after a period of time.

Don’t just use your sunscreen for sunny days. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can penetrate up to 80 percent on a cloudy day and 25 percent of the sun’s rays reflect off the sand.

Beside wearing sunscreen, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. In addition, hats, swim cover ups, and UV protected rash guards are another way to keep the sunburns at bay.

Enjoy the sun but keep your skin protected!