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FUN IN THE SUN!

 

With the warm weather approaching, brings with it many outdoor activities and the desire to enjoy the sunshine we have all been waiting for! Of course, the sun is something we all love, but also something we must be cautious of. The sun is extremely powerful and learning how to enjoy it, while remaining safe is vital to surviving the summer (& many more summers to come).

About the Sun: Positives & Negatives

There is absolutely no better feeling than the sun shining down on your face on a hot summer’s day. The sun is important—it produces vitamin D leading to strong bones and helps in keeping one’s mood positive, while maintaining our circadian rhythm (Harvard Medical School, 2018). The best time to get some sun for vitamin D is in the late morning for approximately 30 minutes!

While the sunlight is necessary for functions in the body, too much exposure can be detrimental. 90% of the UV coming from the sun is Ultraviolet A, with the other 10% being Ultraviolet B. Both A and B level radiations can result in negative effects, with Ultraviolet A leading to wrinkles and aging and Ultraviolet B being the main source of sunburns (Harvard Medical School, 2018). It is important to remain protected from these dangerous rays as they can lead to skin cancer. Now let’s find out how to protect ourselves!

All About Sunscreen

You scream, I scream, we all scream for sunscreen! We ALL should be lathering on sunscreen no matter the age! Sunscreen helps to reduce the risk of acquiring skin cancer and pre-cancers as well as preventing the aging of skin associated with wrinkles & age spots (Skin Cancer Foundation).

Sunscreen should be worn every single day! Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater should be reapplied every two hours and 30 minutes before going outside. Additionally, for a day spent in the great outdoors, it is recommended to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of 30+ SPF (Skin Cancer Foundation). Now, sunscreen alone is not sufficient to stay protected from the harmful UV rays. What else can you do to stay safe and have fun?

Other Ways to Stay Safe

Staying sun safe goes beyond wearing sunscreen! Here are some tips & tricks to remain safe on those dreamy summer days.

  • Take frequent breaks from the sunlight by going inside or underneath a source of shade
  • Wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun further
  • Do not forget about your eyes! Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays can help keep your eyes safe (Kids Health Organization)
  • Stay hydrated with water! The sun produces sweat which reduces your water levels (Kids Health Organization)

Our Products

Here at Lancaster Pharmacy, we offer high-quality, sustainable sunscreens to stay protected this summer. To start off, the ATTITUDE SPF 30 sunscreen is perfect for adults! This is not only biodegradable, but also a product which is long-lasting. This all natural, vegan product is free of dangerous chemicals including benzophenone 3, oxybenzone and octinoxate. With an easy, non-greasy application, putting on this sunscreen will be a BREEZE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those little ones out there, we also have the perfect product for you! Boo Bamboo Suncare SPF 40 is a natural product providing overwhelming protection from both UVA & UVB rays. It is another vegan product, and it is paraben and DEA free. This product is PERFECT for kids outdoors as it absorbs quickly, is water resistant and scent-free. For whatever activity the sunshine brings, Boo Bamboo Suncare should be your right-hand man! Now, get out there and have fun in the sun!

This sunscreen is safe for your little ones as it is non-nano zinc oxide. This is so important for kids as the ingredients allow for strong protection from the sun and do not break down chemically in the sun (Ewg, 2020). Additionally, the non nano material within this sunscreen provides greater SPF as well as clarity (Ewg, 2020).  The small shape and size of the nano particles allow for greater sun protection, and the nanoparticles do not remain in the skin in large amounts as it can be dangerous for your vital organs (Ewg, 2020). Overall, this non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen is easy and safe for your kids!

References

ATTITUDE SPF30 Adult Fragrance-free. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://well.ca/products/attitude-spf30-adult-fragrance-free_162558.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwoPL2BRDxARIsAEMm9y_yce4cZzkF3a6_-CTho1Znv3R-ASN8wtO63PU-9uu8pnaGQBIXrasaAg8dEALw_wcB

Boo Bamboo Suncare Natural Sunscreen with Bamboo Extract SPF 40. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://well.ca/products/boo-bamboo-suncare-natural-sunscreen_77312.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwoPL2BRDxARIsAEMm9y9ZXk1Ji5B4wQDTcyhRlSBIsa_CzguROvOWBn23HF8CCt9hKEihpWEaAs1gEALw_wcB

Cronan, K. M. (Ed.). (2017, October). How to Be Safe When You’re in the Sun (for Kids) – Nemours

Ewg. (n.d.). EWG’s 2020 Guide to Safer Sunscreens. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/

KidsHealth. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/summer-safety.html

Sunscreen. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/

Wu, D. (2018, June 21). Sun protection: Appropriate sunscreen use. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sun-protection-appropriate-sunscreen-use-2018062114114