The summer is officially here, and everyone at SunCommon is thrilled!
Whether you’re looking forward to backyard BBQs, swimming, or just spending time outdoors with your family and friends, Summer means lots of fun powered by the sun. At SunCommon, we’ve become experts on everything solar and safety, so as we all run out to enjoy the season, we’ve got some important tips to enjoy those summer rays safely.
Let’s start with a crazy fact:
Did you know that our own home state of Vermont has the nation’s second-highest per-capita rate of new melanoma cases, behind only Utah? Whoa! Our beautiful green state is second only to the deserts of Utah when it comes to skin cancer; definitely not the kind of competition we want to keep winning.
And when we look at raw numbers…
New York is third-highest for newly-reported cases of Melanoma in 2020, behind Florida and California; so this definitely applies to all our friends in New York, as well.
We know that the sun is strong enough to power our homes and businesses, and yes a little sun does help your body produce Vitamin D and boosts your immune system, but hopefully we’re not the first to tell you that your skin isn’t designed to absorb as much sunlight as a solar panel. Too much of this good thing, and you’re probably at risk of developing melanoma.
So, what can you do to protect your skin from the power of the sun?
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher, even on overcast or cloudy days. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB, the two types of ultraviolet rays that cause burns, premature aging of the skin, and melanoma.
- Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel.
- Seek shade, especially during midday hours; leave those peak sun hours for your solar panels to soak up.
- Be extra careful around surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays, like sand and water.
- Wear protective gear like a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses. Wear a t-shirt, beach cover-up, or even better, long-sleeved shirt and pants or long skirt. We’ve outfitted our installers with some great UVP shirts to keep them safe for the long hours they spend up on roofs; consider getting one yourself if you spend extended time out in the sun.
- There’s no such thing as a good “base tan.” A tan indicates damage to your skin. Indoor and outdoor tanning are both dangerous. In 2012, Vermont became the second state to prohibit the use of commercial indoor tanning by youth under age 18.
The key takeaways are that the sun is super powerful, so use sunscreen every time you’re headed outdoors, and reapply often!
As well, there are some early signs of melanoma that you’ll want to look out for; If you find anything suspicious, you should discuss it with your primary care physician, a dermatologist (skin doctor) or a healthcare professional qualified to diagnose melanoma. The first sign of melanoma is typically a new spot on the skin, or a change in the size, shape or color of an existing mole.
The ABCDE method may help you determine whether an abnormal skin growth may be melanoma:
- Asymmetry: The mole has an irregular shape.
- Border: The edge is not smooth, but irregular or notched.
- Color: The mole has uneven shading or dark spots.
- Diameter: The spot is larger than the size of a pencil eraser.
- Evolving or Elevation: The spot is changing in size, shape or texture.
Because cancer symptoms vary — and not all melanomas develop from moles — it is important to discuss new or unusual skin growths with your doctor.
Now that you’ve got our top tips for staying safe in the sun, get out and enjoy those rays!
And if you’ve got any questions about how to harness those solar rays to power your home, get in touch today!
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