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A spirit that is not afraid

COLUMN: A pale person's guide to staying burn free

With Fourth of July on the rise, it is time to talk about the best way to prevent getting fried by the sun.

There are thousands of different types of sunscreens, UV shirts and hats that claim to be the best for those who proudly proclaim pale status. Being pale and avoiding the burn during the hot days of June is an art form. If you are a little short on the melanin you too can be a day-walker without the fear of going up in flames.

It is important to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure because research shows that it can lead to skin cancer. Those who have had skin cancer before, burn easily, or have moles are most at risk. To make matters worse, UV radiation is three times stronger in the summer than in the winter.

There is one must have during this UV peaked season: sunblock. Without sunblock, you are likely to go up in flames, literally. Thankfully developers have heard our cries for help and have created an app called UV Index, it is free in the app store. This app provides a reading of what to expect for the day and how much sunscreen you need to rub on.

UV index of one? Have fun in sun.

UV index of 11? Goodness, stay inside.

If you do not have your phone handy another tip is if you are out in midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) look to your shadow. If your shadow is taller than you, that means that the UV rate is low. If it is shorter, the UV rate is high.

It is known fact that if any part of a fair-skinned body is exposed to the sun for too long, it will burn. It is important to protect everything. It is important to use a sunblock that has sun protection factors of 30 or higher.

From one pale person to others, during this time of the year, UV radiation at it’s highest it is important to remain hydrated and make sure you lather up the sunscreen so that you can have a burn-free summer.


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