LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — As people spend more time outdoors this summer, medical experts are reminding residents to protect themselves from harmful ultraviolet rays.
July is recognized as UV Safety Awareness Month, and health officials say taking precautions in the sun can help prevent skin damage and other long-term health problems.
Excessive exposure to UV rays can contribute to premature skin aging and increase the risk of skin cancer. Dr. Susan Kaufman, chief medical officer at Lima Memorial Health System, said people should be especially cautious during the hours when the sun is strongest.
“Really want to think about those hours between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. where the sun's at its strongest. That's where you can get sunburn. And you want to protect yourself and you can do that in a number of ways. You can put sunscreen on, but the thing I found was interesting is you really need to put it on 15 minutes before you go out so it can kind of bind to your skin. You need to reapply it every 2 hours, especially if you've gone swimming or you're sweating a lot,” says Dr. Susan Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer, Lima Memorial Health System.
Kaufman also emphasized the importance of protecting the eyes while outdoors, noting that UV exposure can contribute to cataracts.
“You also want to remember to protect your eyes because you can get cataracts and one of the ways you can prevent cataracts is wearing sunglasses, especially wide brim or the ones that go around the side,” adds Dr. Kaufman.
For those concerned about getting enough vitamin D, Kaufman said most people can meet their needs with about 15 minutes of sun exposure.
