How Many Sunburns Are Too Many?

Do you like playing outside? Running, jumping, swimming, or riding your bike? Me too! But too much sun can hurt your skin.

Sunburn happens when your skin gets too much UV light from the sun. UV light is like invisible sun rays that can sneak into your skin even on cloudy days. When too much of it gets in, your skin turns red, hot, and can even hurt!

There isn’t a “magic number people reach before it’s bad,” because every sunburn counts and damages your skin a little bit each time.

In Fact...

• Just 1 sunburn (especially if it causes blistering) as a kid may dramatically increase your chance of getting melanoma later in life.

• If someone gets five or more sunburns over their life, their risk of melanoma can more than double compared to people who did not get sunburns.

What Should I do to Prevent Sunburns?

Practicing some of these simple sun safety habits can really go a long way!

1. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face and neck

2. Put on ultra violet blocking sunglasses so sun light can’t harm your eyes

3. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply ~every 2 hours

4. Seek shade when the sun is strongest (usually 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

5. Wear lightweight clothes that cover your arms and legs. (dark or neon colors are ideal)

Remember that you can have fun in the sun without causing damage to your skin!

Information from Melanoma Focus & The Oncology Nursing Society

Image from Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville