How to deal with UV exposure

During the hot summer, exposing our skin to sunlight for extended periods is essential for our bodies, as prolonged exposure promotes the production of vitamins. However, excessive exposure to direct sunlight can lead to conditions such as skin cancer or allergies. Today, we will look into how to manage UV exposure.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of restaurants placing tables outdoors has increased to maintain social distancing. This is because the risk of infection is lower when dining outdoors compared to indoors, but eating outside inevitably involves exposure to direct sunlight. Since there are restaurants with outdoor tables in Korea as well, if you prefer being outdoors rather than indoors, you must find a way to protect your skin. This applies not only to restaurants but also to going out in general.

Wherever you go, it is a good idea to check if there are structures providing shade. This means that if you are using an outdoor table at a restaurant, you should verify whether there is a parasol. In the case of a park, you should check if there are shade canopies, and if such structures do not exist, you can even make one yourself. When going outside, you can take a parasol or tent with you to block UV rays. As time passes, the sun shifts, but pop-up tents have the advantage of being able to block sunlight regardless of how it enters.

One way to deal with UV exposure is to use sunscreen on exposed skin. These products create a barrier that can chemically or physically block ultraviolet rays and sunlight. When choosing a product, you must check the SPF, which indicates the effectiveness of UV blocking, and the PA rating, which indicates the degree of UV blocking. For SPF, the higher the number, and for PA, the more plus signs there are, the better the effect.

One thing to be careful about when using sunscreen is that in real-life situations, the cream may strip away if you sweat, come into contact with water, or touch something else, potentially rendering it ineffective at blocking UV rays. To adapt to these conditions while outdoors, it is necessary to reapply sunscreen every few hours. It is also good to know that applying a thicker layer helps block UV rays more effectively. Applying too much sunscreen at once can cause a white cast on the skin. Therefore, rather than applying a large amount all at once, it is better to build up layers gradually, creating a high profile.

If you are going to be active outdoors for a long time, applying sunscreen is good, but wearing this type of clothing is also helpful. UV-blocking clothing works by using fibers that reflect or absorb ultraviolet rays to prevent them from reaching the skin.

Source https://post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=34361080&memberNo=54067778