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Despite the current dreary weather, it’s time to start looking forward to summer days on the lake.
With summer comes sun, and with sun comes sunburn. Doctor Wright from UP portage health system talked on how to best protect yourself and your family.
“So with regards to using sunscreen, when you’re near reflective surfaces, traditionally that would be water, what you’ll see is you’ll not only get the direct sun, but you’ll also get reflected radiation from the water. You can get a sunburn faster than you would otherwise, the amount of intensity will be significant, [and] this is where its critical to do a couple of things. So yes, your sunscreen, your protective gear, your hat, these are certainly critical. You really want to be [protected]. If you’re out fishing or doing water sports, maybe sun protective gloves if you’re not using a sunscreen on your hands. I would definitely recommend some type of eye wear – sunglasses or something else- that has protection built in because the exposure can be significant.” – Adult Internal Medicine Physician at UP Health System Portage in Hancock, Doctor Keith Wright
He recommends using a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB sun rays. He also suggests using sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on young children to act as a mechanical protection against the sun, versus a chemical one.
Keep in mind some medications increase your sensitivity to sun, and can greatly increase your risk of sunburn.
