With the warm summer months finally here, and stay-at-home restrictions starting to ease, many people are enjoying the chance to get outside more often.
Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says it’s important not to forget the physical distancing and other coronavirus safety measures that have helped keep infections in check in many parts of the country. Another step that will help keep you and your family healthy when heading outdoors after so much time inside: protecting yourself from the sun.
This can feel like a small thing in the face of a pandemic, but people shouldn’t neglect their overall health, even while working to curb the spread of the coronavirus- and sun safety is no exception. More than three million people in the U.S. each year are diagnosed with skin cancer caused primarily by exposure to sunlight and other ultraviolet light, including about 100,000 with deadly melanoma. And even less-serious skin cancers can require treatment that leaves scars and impacts quality of life.
Steps that help protect against skin damage from the sun include: use sunscreen; find shade; and wear sun-protective clothing, like hats and long-sleeved shirts.
In a usual year, springtime provides us a slow transition to outdoor activities. By the time the long, sunny days of summer arrive, people have had a chance to build their sun-safety routines. This spring has been very different. After so much time spent sheltering in place, many people are essentially skipping spring and heading outside straight into peak summer sun.
So, Dr. Colditz says try to be aware of this and take extra care and think about all the things you’ll need. Find those hats and long-sleeved shirts, and make sure you have enough sunscreen, checking expiration dates for good measure.