Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible form of radiation. They can pass through your skin and damage your skin cells. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage. Suntans aren't healthy, either. They appear after the sun's rays have already killed some cells and damaged others. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or at any temperature. They can also cause eye problems, wrinkles, skin spots and skin cancer.
To protect yourself:
- Stay out of the sun when it is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher
- Wear protective clothing
- Wear wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection
- Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds
Check your skin regularly for changes in the size, shape, color or feel of birthmarks, moles and spots. Such changes are a sign of skin cancer.
How to choose a sunscreen and protect skin from the sun
Desmond Shipp, MD, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, covers everything to consider when you're headed out into the sun, regardless of the season or weather.