Everyone has a certain risk of developing cancer. An estimated 2 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and about 1 in 4 will die from cancer. (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2021). Your risk increases or decreases depending on the choices you make and how your environment supports you.
Here are some tips on having fun in the sun safely:
- Cover up: When the UV Index is 3 or higher, wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
- Limit sun time: Stay out of the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when it’s strongest. Find shade under trees, umbrellas, or shelters, and take an umbrella to the beach.
- Check the UV Index: Look up the UV forecast on local news or online. If it’s 3 or higher, wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and sunglasses, even when it’s cloudy.
- Use sunscreen: Choose “broad spectrum,” water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and put it on whenever the UV Index is 3 or more.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, especially on hot days. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Skip tanning beds: There’s no safe tan. Tanning equipment harms your skin and raises your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
- Some medications can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if yours do.
- Use sun protection year-round — UV rays can still damage skin on cloudy or cool days.
- Anyone can develop skin cancer, regardless of skin colour.
- Even when the UV Index is low, reflection off surfaces like water, snow, sand, and concrete can increase UV intensity.
Sun Safety Tips Video | Check Your Skin Video
Outdoor play is great for kids’ health and helps them get the exercise they need. But no matter the weather, it’s important to keep them safe from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Understanding UV rays:
- UV-A: The weakest type, but it can still cause sunburn, skin damage, and skin aging. It can also harm outdoor plastics and paint.
- UV-B: Stronger than UV-A, this is the main cause of sunburn. It can damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. The UV Index measures how strong these rays are at any given time.
- UV-C: The most powerful type, but it doesn’t reach the Earth because the ozone layer blocks it.
If kids are not protected, sun exposure can burn their skin, harm their eyes, and increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Keeping babies safe in the sun:
- Babies six months and older
- Put sunscreen on any skin that isn’t covered by clothing or a hat 30 minutes before heading outside. Re-apply every 2-3 hours or more if needed. Use sunscreen that's SPF 30 or higher, “broad spectrum” (UVA/UVB protection), and water-resistant.
- Offer small sips of water in an open cup along with their regular breastmilk/formula.
- Babies under six months
- Check with a healthcare provider before using sunscreen. Try staying in the shade, putting them in loose clothes, avoiding peak sun hours, and wearing hats.
- Shouldn’t drink water; they get all the hydration they need from breastmilk and/or formula. They may want to feed more often during hot days.
Keeping kids safe in the sun:
- Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours, or more often if your child is swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel.
- Use a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face and head.
- Sunglasses with UV 400 or 100% UV protection help protect the eyes.
- Dress kids in long-sleeved, light-coloured shirts and long pants when possible. Less exposed skin means better protection.
- Lip balm with SPF 30+ helps protect lips from burning.
- Check the UV Index and try to avoid sun exposure during peak hours (11 a.m.-3 p.m.).
- Seek shade whenever possible or create your own with umbrellas or pop-up shelters. Keep babies out of direct sunlight.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of cool liquids, especially water, even before your child feels thirsty.
If your child attends daycare or summer camp, check the sun safety policies to make sure they are protected when away from home.
Lead by example: Kids learn sun-safe habits by watching adults. Protect yourself and your family so your children will follow your lead.
Additional resource: Sun safety | Caring for kids
Some people think indoor tanning is a “safe” way to get a tan, but that’s not true. Using tanning beds can seriously harm your health. The UV rays from tanning equipment can be up to 14 times stronger than the sun at midday in summer. Young people are especially at risk.
What you need to know before using a tanning bed:
- UV rays from the sun and tanning beds can cause cancer.
- In Ontario, it’s illegal for anyone under 18 to use tanning beds.
- Using tanning beds before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer) by 59%.
- The earlier and more often you tan, the higher your risk of skin cancer.
- Any tan or change in skin colour is a sign of skin damage.
Even one tanning session can increase your risk of skin cancer, and the risk grows with more frequent use.
Other effects of UV exposure from tanning:
- Wrinkles and premature aging of the skin
- Sunburns and long-term skin damage
- Eye injuries, including retinal burns, cataracts, and lesions
- Weakened immune system
Bottom line: There is no safe way to tan, indoors or outdoors. Protect your skin, reduce your risk of skin cancer, and avoid tanning beds.