Being outside in the fresh air benefits all ages. For family members providing senior care, it’s important to remember that time spend outside should also include protective measures to prevent sun burns and excessive sun exposure. In celebration of National Facial Protection Month, you need to make sure your the senior in your care always has these items with them every time you go outside.
Skin Protection for the Face and Lips
The Skin Cancer Foundation states that even on a cloudy day 80 percent of a sun’s UV rays make their way through the cloud layers. Broad spectrum sunscreen must always be worn when you and your elderly loved one spend time outside. A higher SPF is better, and you need to remember to protect the lips too. Lip cancer is possible and is more likely in males with fair skin. In addition, in a study of more than 2,000 patients, the Skin Cancer Foundation found that the risk of developing a cancerous lesion on the lower lip is 12 times more common than developing a lesion on an upper lip. Don’t forget the lips when applying protective sunscreen.
Sunglasses With UVA and UVB Protection
The eyelid and eye are not immune to risk of damage from sun exposure. UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids and certain cancers within the eye. Sun exposure also increases the risk of macular degeneration.
It’s important for you to make sure your senior parent has a pair of sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Take a close look at packaging when you’re shopping for sunglasses together. The sunglasses must protect against UVA and UVB rays and cover the entire area of the eye and upper and lower eyelids. When running errands during your senior care routine, make sure your parent has the chance to try on different pairs of sunglasses to find a pair that fits well and is comfortable.
Wide-Brimmed Hat
The final part of keeping the face protected during outdoor senior care activities is a wide-brimmed hat. While sunscreen and sunglasses do their part at protection, a wide-brimmed sunhat offers that extra level of protection. The hat should fit comfortably and have a tie to keep the hat in place on a windy day.
Make protecting the face from UV rays part of your daily getting-ready senior care routine. A few minutes spent indoors making sure protective measures are in place goes a long way in preventing skin cancer and excessive aging of the skin.
Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/10/living/guide-to-sun-safety/
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/lip-cancer-not-uncommon
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/for-your-eyes/how-to-select-the-perfect-pair-of-sunglasses
