The cooler, shorter days of autumn are sometimes the best time of year to get outside. Depending on where you live, the leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange, yellow, and red. There may be a gentle breeze or nip in the air, and it is the perfect season for outdoor activities. Some areas even see snow in autumn, which reflects the sun’s rays back at you.
Do not be fooled by cooler weather or cloudy skies – you can still be at risk of sun damage to your skin!
You may not get a sunburn, but even if you are only outside for a few minutes, the damage to your skin’s DNA can last a lifetime. Yes, you might be wearing longer sleeves, pants instead of shorts, and a jacket. However, skin not covered, including the top of your head and your ears, hands, neck, and face, is subject to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Those are also areas that are highly susceptible to skin cancer.
Along with the danger of skin cancer, prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful UV light can increase wrinkles, sunspots, photoaging, and other unwanted changes in your appearance.
You can still enjoy the outdoors safely by following many of the same sun tips of the summer. For those who live in warmer climates that may not experience the change of seasons, autumn is still a time of hot days and scorching sunlight. Safe sunbathing is crucial to protecting your skin from damage.
General Advice for Autumn Sun
Winter, spring, summer, or fall (autumn), the advice for protecting your skin from sun damage is the same. You might think running outside to get the mail will only take a minute, but what if you run into a neighbor and find yourself socializing for 2o minutes?
Commuting time is often longer in the autumn, as kids are back in school, and driving through school zones can take extra time. The sun’s UV rays penetrate through windows, damaging your exposed skin. Many drivers notice more age spots on their left hand than their right, as the hand is more exposed to the sun. You may not realize it, but you can also get sun exposure on planes, buses, and trains.
Sunbathing in the autumn is just as dangerous for the skin as in the summer, perhaps more so, as people do not always consider the sun’s rays as strong. Forgoing sun protection can be a serious mistake.
The more steps you take to protect your skin from damage, the better it will be in the long run.
● Avoid peak hours of sun
No matter the time of year, peak sun time is between 10 am and 4 pm. Try to reduce the time you spend outdoors during these hours or use the many methods of protection listed below.
● Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and re-apply every two hours
All sunscreens are not equal. Broad spectrum sunscreens shield against UVA and UVB rays. You can search online for the safest sunscreens to avoid potentially dangerous chemicals. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you go in the water or sweat.
● Protect head and eyes from sunlight
Wide-brim hats and UV-blocking sunglasses help protect the scalp, ears, eyes, face, and neck from direct sunlight. You still need to put sunscreen on your skin for added protection.
● Cover your skin
Wearing long sleeves, high neck tops, and long pants, especially when treated with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), provides better sun blocking than sunscreen. UPF is a treatment applied to the fabric to reduce the penetration of UV rays through your clothing.
● Seek shade
Although some UV rays can still get to your skin, spending your time in the shade, especially during peak sun hours, can reduce the effects. Remember, the sun’s rays can break through branches, leaves, and clouds. The sun also reflects off other surfaces like glass, concrete, water, and sand.
● Change positions frequently
If you are sunbathing, turn over every fifteen minutes to avoid long-term exposure to one part of the body.
Why Is the Sun Dangerous
We cannot live without the sun, but its effects on our bodies can lead to lifelong health problems if we are not careful. Every sunburn, beginning in childhood, compounds future risks.
Here are some of the most serious concerns with sun exposure:
● Sunburns
Reddening of the skin can occur in stages, with painful blisters that can cause discolored spots that last up to a year, occurring in second-degree burns. The fluid-filled blisters can be painful and itchy and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and dizziness.
Third and fourth-degree sunburns may require medical attention.
● Skin cancer
There are different types of skin cancer, as explained below:
▪ Basal cell carcinoma: encompassing about 80% of skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma appears on the skin’s surface. However, it starts in the basal cells, replacing old cells in the lower levels of the epidermis. It rarely spreads, but it can be life-threatening if it does.
▪ Kaposi sarcoma: KS causes brown, purple, or red lesions on the skin, primarily the face, legs, or feet, although they can also appear on the lymph nodes, mouth, or genital area. The lesions may not cause problems on the skin’s surface, but when inside the body, they can lead to bleeding and life-threatening problems.
▪ Lymphoma of the skin: white blood cells called lymphocytes may grow irregularly on the skin, called a cutaneous lymphoma.
▪ Melanoma: developing from the pigment-forming melanocytes, melanoma can develop anywhere but is most common on women’s legs and men’s backs and chest. Although only about one percent of skin cancer is melanoma and easily treatable when detected early, they can spread and become more challenging to treat if not caught early.
▪ Merkel cell: with this rare skin cancer, Merkel cells from the epidermis overgrow and can spread quickly. Only about 1,500 cases occur in the US each year.
▪ Squamous cell: affecting the outermost epidermis, these cells are most associated with areas exposed to the most UV light. Because squamous cells can also occur in the mucous membranes and lungs, it can be life-threatening, especially if untreated. Squamous cell cancer is the second most common type.
● Heat stroke: occurs when the body cannot regulate its temperature due to sun and heat exposure. Symptoms include high body temperature, rapid breathing, altered mental state, vomiting, nausea, headache, racing heart, and flushed skin.
● Heat rash: tiny red, white, or clear bumps, occasionally filled with fluid, can occur in hot, humid weather. There are different types and heat rash can be painful or uncomfortable.
● Photoaging: long-term sun exposure prematurely ages the skin, causing brown spots, broken capillaries, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, and increased risk of skin cancer.
● Eye damage: Photokeratitis occurs when the eyes become severely sunburned. It causes inflammation of the cornea. Other eye problems associated with sun exposure are cataracts, eyelid cancer, and age-related macular degeneration.
● Wrinkles
Long-term sun exposure damages the skin, increasing wrinkling. That is not the only cause of wrinkles, as declining hormone levels can worsen skin and hair due to decreased cell regeneration and collagen and elastin production. For example, people with HGH deficiency often have sagging and dry skin and thinning hair. Look at HGH skin before and after results and find out all the benefits of HGH treatment.
● Sunspots
Also called age or liver spots, these hyperpigmented spots develop with age, often on the face, hands, and forearms due to excess sun exposure.
What Countries Are Perfect for Autumn Vacations?
Autumn is the perfect time for a vacation, as many countries are experiencing the change of seasons, offering beautiful, colorful vistas. Here are some options to consider:
● Croatia:
Low humidity, less rain, plenty of daylight, and smoothing sailing weather make Croatia a perfect place to visit in autumn. There is so much to explore, from Renaissance architecture to majestic waterfalls.
● Portugal:
Gorgeous beaches, ancient history, spectacular churches, river cruising, and medieval haunts await you in Portugal this autumn.
● Switzerland:
Visiting the Alps in autumn brings a milder climate, vibrant colors, grape, and fine wine celebrations, and during the first weekend in October, the Autumn Festival.
● Italy:
From vineyards to beaches and lakes to brilliant fall foliage, there is so much to do in Italy in autumn. Enjoy the warm weather of the Mediterranean through mid-October.
● Ireland:
September and October bring bright blue skies, crisp temperatures, autumn colors, scenic hiking trails, waterfalls, and deer spotting. At night, there are plenty of pubs for a fireside pint.
● Greece
Fewer crowds on the beaches, pleasant weather, dramatic cliffs, brilliant foliage, fantastic food, great wine, and celebrating the olive harvest are why visiting Greece in the autumn is an excellent choice.
Conclusion
Staying safe in the autumn sunlight is no different than in the summer. Protect your skin so it stays healthy for your lifetime. Whether staying close to home or traveling abroad, remember to take sunscreen and apply it regularly.
