Protection from sun's cancer-causing UV rays requires more than sunscreen, dermatologists say

Caption

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, everyone older than six months should use sunscreen every day to decrease the risk of skin cancer. But dermatologists advise additional measures.

Credit: PBS News Hour / GPB File

If you’re going outside this weekend, bring a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of sunscreen because the No. 1 risk factor for all skin cancers is the sun’s ultraviolet light.

But that's not all you should use for protection, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Emory University Jordan Lim said.

Simple things like seeking shade will help this Fourth of July weekend.

"If you're doing a picnic out in a park for the Fourth, going underneath one of those shelters or even a tree," she said. "That can decrease that amount of UV that you're getting."

She also recommends avoiding the peak times of the day when UV rays are at their highest point, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

"So, you know, you're gonna mow your lawn, do it early in the morning or later in the afternoon," Lim said.

Clouds and even T-shirts without a UPF rating don’t stop ultraviolet rays, which is why doctors see skin cancers in areas that are usually covered, she said. 

Many people get bad burns when it's not sunny and hot like it is currently in Atlanta, but when the weather is gloomy and people just aren't thinking about protecting their skin, Lim said. 

"One bad burn when you're younger can actually lead to a skin cancer down the road," Lim said. "One in five of us, about 20% of us will get a skin cancer in our lifetimes."

Sun seekers should wear between 30 and 50 SPF sunscreen, and reapply it every two hours.