Sunscreen key to avoiding sunburn as the mercury rises

It shouldn’t be a surprise that you need sunscreen when the mercury hits this high.

Temperatures right across Saskatchewan this weekend will be in the mid-to-late 30s Celsius —which is close to 100 Fahrenheit.

Dermatologist Dr. Roberta McKay says there is little coverage difference between SPF 30 and 50, but when you apply sunscreen and how often does count.

“If you’re just going about your day and you’re in air-conditioning all day, one application is just fine,” McKay explained. “But if your day consists of being on the beach and swimming and doing things where you’re playing tennis or something, you should apply it more frequently.”

And while no one wants to hear such advice when we have such a short amount of time to enjoy the warm weather, McKay said you can go one a few steps further to really protect yourself from the sun.

“Wear a hat, cover up in less gauzy material, seek out shade and, if at all possible, don’t go out between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is at its peak,” McKay suggested.

And while that advice isn’t new, McKay is reminding you that you need to think about sunscreen year round in Saskatchewan, even in the extreme cold.

“You can get reflection of sun rays off snow, off concrete,” McKay said. “Yes we don’t have that many hot days in the year but we do have sunshine a good portion of the year.”

— With files from Adriana Christianson