I know, I know, I know: Like most of you, I too wake up some days thinking summer will never arrive in western Canada again.
But smarter people than me assure me that this is wrong: Summer will eventually arrive and when it does, if you’re anything like me, you will rush outside to spend some time bathing in that big, beautiful, hot sun.
So let me play my standard role of parent and warn you all ahead of time that while some time in the sun is necessary for good health – sunshine acting on our skin helps our bodies produce vitamin D which we all very much need – too much sun is clearly linked to poorer health both in the short term which leads to problems such as sunburns and sunstrokes, and especially in the long-term through much higher risks of skin cancer, especially the most serious form known as malignant melanoma.
So here’s the advice that you really need to heed in the coming months: 10-20 minutes of sun exposure several days a week is OK but
- Try to avoid being out there at the peak-sun times of day
- Cover yourself and especially your kids with sun-protective clothing while outdoors
- Wear a hat even if like me, you think that a hat makes you look nerdy: No one really notices, believe me
- Slather on sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 (and it’s a very good idea to carry extra tubes in your car, just in case)
- Don’t forget to protect your eyes – sunlight exposure is said to raise the risk of cataracts
- And remember that just being outside is linked to better health so a walk in the park in the shade is probably better for you overall than 2 hours spent on the beach.
Check out our full selection of suncare solutions here.
