Sun Safety
Sunshine is sweet; it is good to see the light of day. Ecclesiastes 11:7 NCV
We have officially reached the summer season, and for many of us, that means getting outside to enjoy the long days and warm weather. Summertime outdoor activities can provide time for personal renewal and community engagement. Whether that means church picnics, nature walks, beach time or sporting events, time spent outdoors means time spent in the sun.
Sunlight provides many health benefits. Sun exposure promotes the body’s production of vitamin D, helps produce our feel-good hormone serotonin, works to regulate sleep, and improves seasonal depression. However, with these important benefits, the ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can cause damage to our skin, such as sunburn and skin cancer. This Thrive in 5 will focus on how to benefit from the sunshine while still protecting our skin.
Here are 5 ways to make sure we partake of the benefits of sunshine without the risk:
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Reapply this sunscreen every 2 hours, more often if you get wet or are sweaty. Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before going outside and spread to all exposed skin. All skin tones benefit from the protection of sunscreen.
- Spend time outside in the early morning or evening. The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 am- 4 pm. It is safest for your skin to limit your time outside during these hours.
- Wear protective clothing. Wide-brim hats, long sleeves, or pants can protect skin from the UV rays, particularly if you are outside for an extended period of time. If temperatures are high, T-shirts and beach coverups may be more practical. Clothing that covers can protect skin from burns and damage.
- Wear sunglasses. UV rays can cause damage to the skin around your eyes and place you at higher risk of developing cataracts and other eye diseases. Choose sunglasses that provide “100% UV protection” to ensure that your eyes are safe.
- Seek shade. Finding shady areas when outside is an effortless way to limit sun exposure when enjoying outdoor activities. Trees, sun shelters, canopies or even large umbrellas are ways to ensure you have shade on sunny days.
Additional resources on Sun Safety:
American Cancer Society (2024). How to protect your skin from UV rays. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/uv-protection.html#:~:text=UV%20rays%20through.-,Wear%20sunglasses%20that%20block%20UV%20rays,Look%20for%20an%20ANSI%20label.
Center for Disease Control (2024). Sun safety facts. https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/sun-safety/index.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2025). The health benefits of sunshine (and how much you need per day). Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-much-sunshine-you-need-daily
John Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Sun safety for the entire family. Health. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sun-safety#:~:text=Sun%20safety%20for%20the%20entire,premature%20skin%20aging%20(photoaging).
Physical contributor: Rosa Ketchum
Executive editor: Johanna Chacon Rugh
Curator of content: Carla Working
