Here are some tips for reducing your risk for skin cancer.

Who doesn’t love basking in the warm rays of the sun?  We all do and we all need some Vitamin D to stay healthy, but those warm rays can be a silent killer if you don’t take precautions.  UV radiation can not only cause premature aging and skin cancer, it can reach you even when you don’t realize it because it can penetrate through clouds and glass, and can even bounce off of snow, water and sand. What’s more, sun damage accumulates over the years, from prolonged outdoor exposure to simple activities like walking the dog, going from your car to the store and bringing in the mail.

Thankfully there are ways to get your dose of sunshine and be safer if you take some precautions.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Don’t get sunburned.
• Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad- spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. And don’t forget to REAPPLY!
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating. Find sunscreen by searching our Recommended Products.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Use sunscreen on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
• Learn more on Skincancer.org: Your Daily Sun Protection Guide.

At Goddess Garden, our goal is to make safe, quality products that work without all those nasty chemicals.  We have SPF 30 and SPF 50 mineral sunscreen options that come is a variety of applications from our Facestick to our lotions to our sprays.