Posted: 5/30/2014

Summer in Texas can leave you with painful sunburns if you don’t protect your skin. Many people don’t know that your eyes need protection from the sun, too. 

Being in the sun – even for a short time during daily activities – can do serious harm to your skin and eyes. Long-term sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and eye disorders, such as cataracts which can cause you to become blind. 

Even though the sun’s rays are very harmful during summer, you should protect yourself all year round. Keep reading to learn how to protect your skin and eyes.

Eyes
Parkland’s Ophthalmology department offers these tips for eye safety:

• Wear sunglasses with labels that show UV-A/U-BA protection.
• Wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.
• Wear a hat or visor when you are outside.
• Use eye drops to soothe your eyes if they hurt or feel dry.
• Never look at the sun without wearing eye protection. 

Skin
Follow these tips when you are outside:

• Always wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• Put sunscreen on every two hours, especially when you swim.
• Try to stay in shady areas.
• Cover your skin with clothes or towels.
• Wear a hat or use an umbrella to protect the top of your head from the sun.

If you have any questions about protecting your skin or eyes this summer, or if would like to schedule an eye or skin exam, please contact your Parkland primary care doctor or call 214.590.5601 to make an appointment at a Parkland clinic near you.