Sun Safety in Colder Weather

Fall is finally here, and that means football, tailgating and colder weather! But before you throw on your red and white for a daylong Razorback football affair, make sure you’re being sun-safe.

A cloudy sky and layered clothing doesn’t necessarily protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, “up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate clouds." And a typical t-shirt has an SPF (Sun Protective Factor) rating lower than 15. So how can you protect yourself from skin damage when you’re tailgating all day and sitting on the east side of the stadium during the game? See below for a list of ways to stay sun-safe this season.

Use sunscreen.

• Choose sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher with “broad spectrum protection” (both UVA and UVB protection).
• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure.
• Sweat, wind and snow wear off sunscreen, so reapply every two hours.
• Also wear lip balm with an SPF rating of 15 or higher and reapply often.

Wear a hat.

• Hats that offer the most protection from the sun have a brim all the way around that leaves your face, ears and neck in the shade.
• If you wear a ball cap, make sure you apply sunscreen to your ears and neck.

Wear sunglasses.

• Sunglasses help protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them from the sun’s rays.
• Sun exposure can potentially cause cataracts, skin cancer around your eyes and melanoma of the eye.
• According to the American Cancer Society, “Wrap-around sunglasses with 99% to 100% UVA and UVB absorption provide the best protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.”

Wear sun-protective clothing.

• Clothing made from tightly woven fabric offers the best protection from the sun’s rays, but you still need to use sunscreen, because most articles of clothing don’t have a high enough SPF rating to fully protect your skin.

For more tips on how to stay sun-safe in colder weather, visit The Skin Cancer Foundation.