Here comes the sun

Even when its cloudy there are sun rays. Places that tend to be overcast (like Oregon and Washington) tend to have the highest rate of skin cancer because people think they don't need to protect themselves from uva ( ultra violet a and b )and uvb rays on cloudy days. Here are some other facts to be aware of to protect yourself from sun damage and cancer.:
- Stick with sunscreens with 15-30 spf uva/uvb protection. (Higher numbers do not protect you in the sun any longer and have added unnecessary chemicals in them.)
-Avoid Ingredients: Oxybenzone, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), added insect repelient.
-Avoid sprays and powders.
-Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and avobenzone or mexoryl. (Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier against the sun's rays, they provide strong sun protection with few health concerns*, and they don't break down in the sun.)
​-Look for cream, broad spectrum protection, water resistant, 30 spf for beach and pool. (Reapply after swimming or sweating.)
​-Protect your lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with spf 30 (yes, skin cancer can also form on the lips).
-Apply approximately 1 oz (the size of a shot glass) for full body coverage. (Most people only use 25-50% the recommended amount.)
-Some sunscreens recommend that meet all these recommendations: Poofy Organics (no nanoparticles)  and Alba Botanica. (For full list go to ewg.org guide to sunscreens.)

​*"On the balance of available evidence-the research suggesting sunscreen is beneficial in reducing the burden of skin cancer  is very clear and convincing . The research suggesting harm from **nanoparticles in sunscreen is, at best, speculative." -cancer.org  
**Nanoparticles ( the size a ingredient is broken into to formulate lotions with less white tint ) in American sunscreens are either titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.