Sun and the Skin

Sunlight is pleasant, useful, and capable of injuring the skin without producing an immediate complaint. A tan is evidence that the skin has responded to ultraviolet light. It is not a protective finish applied by nature for the convenience of the holidaymaker.

Check the ultraviolet index when spending time outdoors. Seek shade during the strongest part of the day and wear clothing which covers the skin, together with a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses. These measures continue to work after perspiration and require no memory beyond putting them on.

Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to exposed skin. Use enough to cover it properly and reapply about every two hours, as well as after swimming, heavy perspiration, or towelling. Sunscreen does not make a long afternoon in direct sun harmless.

Cloud, cool weather, and winter do not remove ultraviolet exposure. Snow and water can increase it by reflection. Medication and some skin conditions may also make the skin more sensitive, so consult the label, pharmacist, or physician where there is doubt.

Examine the skin from time to time, including the scalp, back, soles of the feet, and areas ordinarily covered by hair. A new mark, a mole which changes in size, shape, or colour, a sore which does not heal, or a spot which bleeds or behaves differently from the others should be shown promptly to a physician. Waiting for pain is unhelpful; early skin cancer may cause none.

Further guidance

• Practice safe sun, Canadian Cancer Society
• Signs and symptoms of melanoma skin cancer, Canadian Cancer Society