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Summer is a time to take a step back from school and work and enjoy the warmer weather. Enjoy the beach, pool, mountains, or wherever your heart desires this season. Whichever way you choose to make memories this summer, don’t forget to prepare for your next adventure at Kines Family Pharmacy. Our summertime section will prepare you and your family for any summer vacation activities.
Staying Safe in the Summer Sun
The sun’s rays provide the necessary warmth and take a toll on the body. Sunlight is a type of ultraviolet light, also known as UV light. The earth receives both UVA or UVB:
UVA rays make up 95% of the rays that reach the earth.
UVB rays make up the remaining 5%.
While it may seem irrelevant to you, these rays also impact your daily health. Just like the earth, we too encounter these UV rays that often lead to sunburns and skin damage. Excess exposure to UVA & UVB rays can cause:
Skin damage
Skin cancers
Skin blisters
All skin types are at risk for sun exposure issues. The Fitzpatrick Scale, shown below, is a classification system for skin types and their reaction to UV rays.
Many products help your skin before and after a summer day outside, including:
Aloe vera gel – which heals sunburns.
Hats & Sunglasses – protect your head and face from the sun.
Sunscreen – helps filter UV rays from the sun to protect your skin from damage.
Proper Sunscreen Usage
With each purchase of sunscreen at Kines Family Pharmacy, the letters SPF will always be visible on the label. SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor. SPF measures how well the product will protect your skin when it encounters UV rays from the sun. Dermatologists recommend using sunscreens with at least SPF 30. It’s always good to know the levels of protection offered by each SPF number.
SPF level | Level of protection from UVB Rays |
SPF 15 | 93% |
SPF 30 | 97% |
SPF 50 | 98% |
SPF 100 | 98.3% |
The chart above shows that an increase in SPF level above 30 does not equal significantly more sun protection. We recommend customers keep this data in mind when purchasing sunscreen for themselves and their family members at Kines Family Pharmacy.
Essential Factors to Keep in Mind When Applying Sunscreen
Reapplication is critical to keeping your skin well-protected from the sun. Activities such as swimming can strip your body of sunscreen throughout the day, leaving you vulnerable to harmful sun exposure. This applies to sunscreens that claim to be water-resistant as well.
Sunscreen is to be applied to every visible part of the body, including your face, neck, arms, legs, and lips. With lip balm, many companies make it easier than ever to protect your body from the sun’s rays.
Topical products do lose efficacy over time, and it is important to be mindful of the expiration dates on your sunscreen products. Our staff is readily available to help you find quality products and verify the expiration dates.
Sun Safety Beyond the Beach
No matter your outdoor activities, your plans should always include sunscreen. While beach days and trips to the pool usually require sunscreen, so do many of your daily activities, including:
Driving
Attending an outdoor wedding
Camping
Visiting a water park
Fishing
Yardwork
Exercising outside
Along with using sunscreens, we always recommend that you make sure to stay hydrated, seek shade when possible, and take periodic breaks to preserve your health during peak heat this summer. Our team at Kines Family Pharmacy wants to make sure you enjoy your time in the sun. Pack enough sunscreen for you and your family throughout the summer to avoid sunburns and skin damage!