Shedding Light on Summer Sunburn©

 

 

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It is getting warmer outside, and people are shedding layers and taking off hats and pushing back hoods, but you must be careful...it is sunburn season.

 

I know, really there is no such thing as sunburn season, you can get sunburned (erythema) or get snow blindness (photokeratitis) just as easily in the winter, but in the northern latitudes anyways, as the layers of clothes are removed the chances of sunburn increase.

 

Way back in 2000, Dr. Mark F. Naylor wrote a fantastic article, titled “Shedding Light on the Sunscreen Controversy”, on how to avoid sunburn and reduce your risk of skin cancer.  According to Dr. Naylor and the ADD (American Academy of Dermatology) a history of getting sunburned is the “greatest known environmental risk factor” for nodular and superficially spreading melanomas.  Those at the greatest risk for skin melanoma

 

Repeated intense sunburn, the type that leads to melanoma, is most common on the upper backs, especially for men, and the legs, particularly for women.  And while a nice tan does provide some protection against future sunburning, tanning is your body’s response to “damage that has already occurred because of sun exposure”.  There is evidence that UVB radiation is the principal cause of melanoma, as 90% of the Sun’s sunburning rays is in the UVB range.

 

Avoiding sunburning UVB rays or reducing your exposure to the Sun reduces your lifetime chances of developing skin melanomas. 

 

        Avoidance                      Avoid outdoor activity between 10 am and 4 pm.  According to Dr. Naylor, a good rule of thumb to follow is “if your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade”.

 

        Protective clothing        Wear long sleeves and long pants if you must be out between 10 am and 4 pm.  The fabric’s weave is more important than its weight in determining the protection it provides from the Sun.  A tight weave offers more protection than a loose weave.  

Also, darker colored fabrics provide a greater barrier to the Sun’s rays, than lighter colors.  And don’t forget to wear a hat that completely blocks the light and has a 2-½ inch (6 cm) to 3-½ inch (9 cm) brim to protect your face and neck from the UVB rays.  And lastly protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with side shields.

 

        Sunscreen                       Use a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 and preferably 45.  If sunscreen “burns” or “stings” your skin, use products containing microfine titanium or zinc oxides, which are less likely to cause sensitivity.  Sunscreen reduces UV radiation, but it’s practical depends on its proper use, so don’t forget the following points:

·       Over reliance         A thin layer of SPF 15 does not provide complete protection against the Sun’s rays, so don’t forget the other protective measures.

·       Amount                  Most people don’t use enough sunscreen, don’t skimp.

·       Timing                    Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before exposure to the Sun.

·       Reapply                  Sunscreen wears, rubs, washes, or sweats off over time, so reapply every two to three hours or after each exposure to water, even when using “waterproof” or “water-resistant” products.

 

So, remember to take precautions to prevent sunburn and skin cancer.  Don’t become bleached bones on the desert floor.

 

I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource!  To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE.  Thank you and Happy Trails!

 

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE.  Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.  If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site.  I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

 

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

 

 

Sources

  

Naylor, Mark F., Dr.; “Shedding Light on the Sunscreen Controversy”, Wilderness Medicine Newsletter, May/June 2000, page 1 to 3, https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED448991.pdf, May 31, 2025

University of Utah Health; “Yes, Your Eyes Can Get Sunburned”, [© 2025 University of Utah Health], August 07, 2023, https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2023/08/yes-your-eyes-can-get-sunburned, May 31, 2025

 

Wikimedia; “Shadow, Human Shadow.jpg”, by Sumesh Dugar, June 18, 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shadow,_Human_Shadow.jpg, May 31, 2025

 

Wikimedia; “Sunburn_Treatment_Practices.jpg”, by Phil Kates, March 4, 2006, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunburn_Treatment_Practices.jpg, May 31, 2025