With the end of school and the beginning of summer fun, you and your family have endless opportunities to have fun in the sun. Whether you swim in the pool, spend the day at the beach, or travel to the mountains for a family camping trip, don’t forget to visit Eden Drug. Our summertime section includes items to keep your summer plans sailing smoothly and safely.
Staying Safe in the Summer Sun
The sun provides warmth but also can cause serious damage to your skin and health. Sunlight is a type of ultraviolet light, also referred to as UV light. UV rays that reach the earth’s surface are either UVA or UVB:
- UVA rays make up 95% of the rays that reach the earth.
- UVB rays make up the remaining 5%.
It is important to understand this information for the environment and the health and protection of your skin. Most times, UV rays can turn into a tan or a sunburn. Excess exposure to UVA & UVB rays leads to:
- Skin damage
- Skin cancers
- Skin blisters
Regardless of your skin tone, you still face the negative results of sun exposure. The Fitzpatrick Scale, shown below, is a classification system for skin types and their reaction to UV rays.
There are a variety of helpful products that prevent sun damage and assist with healing burns:
- Aloe vera gel – which helps soothe sunburns.
- Hats & Sunglasses – protect your head and face from the sun.
- Sunscreen – helps filter UV rays from the sun to protect your skin from damage.
Proper Sunscreen Usage
Each sunscreen bottle sold by Eden Drug includes SPF labels to help you choose the best products for your individual needs. SPF is the abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor. SPF measures the level of sun protection offered by a product. Dermatologists often recommend using sunscreens with an SPF 30. While there may be sunscreens with various levels of SPF, it’s always good to be aware of the levels of protection offered by each level of sunscreen.
| SPF level | Level of protection from UVB Rays |
| SPF 15 | 93% |
| SPF 30 | 97% |
| SPF 50 | 98% |
| SPF 100 | 98.3% |
This chart reveals that an SPF level above 30 does not equal significantly more sun protection. It’s important to make informed decisions with every purchase from Eden Drug.
Essential Factors to Keep in Mind When Applying Sunscreen
- Reapplication every two to three hours is important for the health of your skin while outdoors. This applies to sunscreens that claim to be water-resistant as well.
- Sunscreen is essential when it comes to your face, neck, arms, legs, and lips too! Many companies even provide special lip balm to help with protecting your body from the sun.
- When buying sunscreen, it is always important that your purchase isn’t expired. After the date specified on the bottle, you are more likely to burn. We are readily available to help you find up-to-date and fully protective products for your skin.
Sun Safety Beyond the Beach
Sunscreen should be packed for any activity outdoors this summer. Aside from the beach and the pool, you’ll also need sunscreen for:
- Driving
- Attending an outdoor wedding
- Camping
- Visiting a water park
- Fishing
- Yardwork
- Exercising outside
Along with using sunscreens, any time you expect sun exposure, it’s important to stay hydrated, remain in the shade as often as possible, and allow yourself to rest and recover. Our Eden Drug team wants to ensure you enjoy your summertime fun. Be sure to see us before your next outdoor activity to ensure you don’t have to feel the burn this summer!
