Don't Forget to Wear Sunscreen When Working Outdoors This Summer

Working outdoors for long periods during the summer can take a toll on your skin. As the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays beam down, they can cause skin damage in the form of sunburn. Sunburn is an all-too-common condition from which millions of Americans suffer. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), one in three Americans will develop sunburn in any given year.

You can still work outdoors during the summer, but you need to take precautions to protect against sunburn. Fortunately, one of the easiest and most effective ways to safeguard against sunburn is to use wear sunscreen.

What Is Sunscreen?

Sunscreen consists of any lotion, cream, oil or spray that's designed to block UV sunlight. Sunburn, of course, is the result of direct exposure to the sun's UV rays. Sunlight contains UV rays, specifically UVA and UVB rays. Whether these UV rays reach your skin, they can cause damage in the form of sunburn. Sunscreen products are those that protect against sunburn by blocking UV sunlight.

Choose a High SPF

For maximum protection against sunburn when working outdoors, choose a sunscreen product with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF). SPF is a measurement of how effective a sunscreen product is at blocking UV light.  The higher the SPF, the more UV sunlight the sunscreen product will block. 30-SPF sunscreen products, for instance, typically block about 97% of UV sunlight, whereas 15-SPF sunscreen products only block about 93% of UV sunlight.

Consider Broad Spectrum

You should consider choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen product. Broad-spectrum means that the sunscreen product blocks UVA and UVB rays. Not all sunscreen products block both forms of UV sunlight. Some of them only block UVB rays. Sunlight, of course, contains both UVA and UVB rays, which is why it's a good idea to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen product.

Stock Up on Sunscreen Wipes

Sunscreen wipes are a smart investment when working outdoors during the summer. As the name suggests, they consist of wipes that contain a sunscreen product. Rather than spraying a sunscreen product on your exposed skin, you can use a sunscreen wipe. Sunscreen wipes are small, portable and convenient to use. More importantly, they offer the same high level of protection against sunburn as other traditional and high-quality sunscreen products.

With sunscreen, you'll stay protected against sunburn when working outdoors. Just remember to reapply it as needed.