1/2/98

Sun Exposure-- A Wintertime Warning

Most people associate overexposure to the sun with summertime activities: swimming, boating, and sunbathing. But too much sun can be a hazard in the winter as well, especially for anyone enjoying winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and even hours of sledding. By taking a few precautions, the risk of skin cancer and cataracts resulting from too much exposure to the sun's ultra-violet rays can be reduced.

Although clouds, which partially screen UV rays, are more common than sparkling blue skies in the winter, ice and snow reflect the harmful rays in the same way that water and sand do in the summer, thereby increasing exposure. The degree of exposure also varies with the time of day as well as altitude, a consideration for skiers. The effects of too much sun are both immediate and long range: besides sunburn and blisters, overexposure can cause wrinkling and aging of skin, eye damage, skin cancer, and may even injure the immune system. Because so many effects are experienced over time, it is especially important to protect children from ultra violet rays in order to reduce their risk of adverse effects later on.

The American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation, along with doctors from Prevent Blindness America, the American Optometric Association, and the American Academy of Opthamology recommend the following measures to reduce the risks from the sun's rays:

· Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher on all exposed skin, even on cloudy days. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours;

· Minimize the amount of time spent in the sun during mid day, especially between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm;

· Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the neck and face;

· Wear sunglasses that absorb 99-100% of the full UV spectrum in bright sun outdoors. (Read labels carefully--many sunglasses claim to "block harmful UV rays" but fail to state the amount);

· When sunglasses are not a realistic option (such as with children playing outdoors in the snow), wear a hat with a wide brim to help protect the face.

Anyone interested in obtaining more information on the UV index or skin cancer should contact the Central Connecticut Health District at 721-2822.