Tips to stay sun safe while outside this summer

A woman helps a man apply sunscreen as they relax at Britannia Beach in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Eastern Ontario's medical officer of health is urging people to lather on the sunscreen as they head outside this summer, warning exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to sunburns and cancer.
'The sunscreen is kind of your best friend,' Dr. Paul Roumeliotis told CTV Morning Live.
Environment Canada says the UV index will be 7 or high today and Thursday in Ottawa, with sunshine in the forecast all weekend.
'It's quite important to recognize that, yes you tanned and so on, but there are dangers,' Roumeliotis said Wednesday morning.
'The truth of the matter is that exposure to the sun and sun burns produce cancer; you can get cancer 20-30 years later. So, the more you're exposed, the longer you're exposed it accumulates – the higher your risk. I call it being sun aware and sun safe.'
Exposure to UV rays from the sun can lead to sunburns, wrinkles, skin damage, skin cancer, eye lesions and cataracts.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit says the people most at risk to UV rays from the sun are children, people participating in outdoor sports and recreation and outdoor workers.
Dr. Roumeliotis says sunscreens are 'safe and will prevent cancer.'
'Sunscreen has to have an SPF factor. So what is SPF? Sun protection factor. We recommend 30 or over; what it means is if you apply it, you get protection 30 times longer than if you did not apply it,' Roumeliotis said.
'One thing we should be looking at as well is should not include PABA because that can irritate the skin. As long as the SPF is there.'
The health unit offers several tips to enjoy the sun safely, including limiting time outdoors when the UV index is 3 or higher and between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dr. Roumeliotis recommends applying sunscreen to all parts of your skin that stick out, including nose, ears and shoulders.
'Everything that is exposed to the skin. You should do that 15-20 minutes before you go out,' Roumeliotis said.
'The waterproof, you need to replace it every two hours. Especially if children go through the water, when they dry off reapply it because it will wear off.'
Roumeliotis insists sunscreen is safe.
'There's no question that scientific research after research has shown if you don't protect your skin against the sun, the accumulation of those UVA and UVB rays can cause cancer,' Roumeliotis said.
'Skin cancer can be fatal. This is not anything to play with. Influencers or not, bottom line is sunscreens are safe and will prevent cancer.'
Other tips to enjoy the sun safely this summer include:

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