Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

The savvy desert dweller’s guide to sun protection

Sun

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Living in the desert can make it difficult to forget about the sun — and that’s a good thing. Because of its omnipresence, the sun’s effect on our bodies is always on our minds. Skin cancer and other serious health issues related to sun exposure can crop up more frequently in Las Vegas than in four-season cities, but the majority of us can’t just hide from the light like Nicole Kidman in “The Others.”

What we can do is know more about the how and how not to of sun protection, soaking up some fun without sacrificing our health.

Did you know?

• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer, and almost 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with it each day.

• Rates of melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — have been rising for three decades.

• Las Vegas receives about 3,817 hours of sunshine per year. The mildest months for sun exposure are January and November, and the heaviest are June and July.

• The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Regardless of the time, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours.

• Cotton clothing only protects the skin with the equivalent of 5-7 SPF.

UVA versus UVB

Sunlight, beneficial in small morning and evening doses, causes harm in large doses by exposing us to both UVA and UVB rays. The acronyms stand for ultraviolet A and B, or long-wave and short-wave rays of radiation from the sun. Skincancer.org explains that UVA accounts for about 95 percent of the radiation that reaches the surface of Earth. It’s also what makes us tan, which is actually the skin’s imperfect defense against sun exposure damaging its DNA. UVB rays are more intense and cause those cooked lobster-style sunburns. It’s the main ingredient of skin cancer.

The savvy desert dweller's guide to sun protection

STEP 1: Know the physical conditions that make you more prone to burning

Obvious risk factors:

• Having fair skin

• Working outdoors

• Tanning

Less obvious risk factors:

• Drinking alcohol outdoors

• Taking photosensitizing medications (such as antibiotics)

• Being near reflective surfaces such as snow, ice, sand and water

STEP 2: Pay attention to whether your sun protection is working

• The FDA notes, “The earliest signs of sunburn are skin that looks flushed, is tender or painful, or gives off more heat than normal.”

• Unfortunately, if your skin tone is darker, you often won’t know until it’s too late. It can take up to two days to know you’ve been burned, especially if you’ve been out on a cool and rainy day. As much as 80 percent of UV rays pass through clouds, according to the Mayo Clinic.

STEP 3: Don’t assume you’re not at risk because you’re ‘inside’

• What most of us don’t know is that we’re exposed even when we’re not intentionally enjoying the outdoors. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation: “UVA rays can penetrate car windows … damage DNA and lead to skin cancer. By law, front windshields are treated to filter out most UVA, but side and rear windows generally aren’t.” Now we know where that odd left-arm tan comes from.

STEP 4: Your hair is not a sun shield

• What could be more directly exposed to the sun than the top of your head? Especially if you always part your hair in the same place, or if you don’t have hair. Combat scalp burn with targeted products, from low-end spray by Banana Boat to high-end leave-in conditioner by Shiseido. Whatever fits your budget, these products all offer skin protection with SPF-specific descriptions on the bottle. Then again, nothing beats the classic floppy sun hat, aside perhaps from one that has built-in UV protection (available through any outdoor equipment outfitter).

STEP 5: Look for changes in your skin over time

• Be on the lookout for precancerous skin lesions, described by the Mayo Clinic as “rough, scaly patches in areas that have been damaged by the sun that may be whitish, pink, tan or brown … usually found on the sun-exposed areas of the head, face, neck and hands.”

• Also suspicious are new moles or tan flat patches that slowly darken.

• Regularly seeing a dermatologist or just taking a few photos and keeping track of anything suspicious may be enough to catch something potentially life threatening.

STEP 6: It never hurts to get creative

• Beyond what you wear or apply to prevent sun damage, “Wellness Mama” Katie Wells believes that what goes in is just as important as what goes on. Explaining this dietary approach, Wells says, “Sunburn is a type of inflammation, and diet has a tremendous impact on inflammation in the body.” Whether you believe the claim that antioxidants protect you from the sun’s radiation, they’re healthy anyway. And hedging a bet never hurt anyone, especially where dark chocolate is concerned. Try these ideas for boosting your skin's defenses from the inside: almonds, berries, broccoli, coconut oil, dark chocolate, fish, green tea, pomegranate, sweet potatoes.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, American Cancer Society, CDC, Good Housekeeping Institute, skincancer.org, usclimatedata.com, weather.com

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