New Guidance on Sun Safety

It’s summertime—hooray! Time for outdoor BBQs, baseball games, swim parties, and hammock naps.

It’s also the time of year for warnings about the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While the summer months are most important, did you know it’s also important for people with lupus to protect themselves from UV all year ’round? And not just outdoors—indoor fluorescent lighting and tanning beds can cause damage, too.

That’s because there are two types of UV that can affect us: UVB is the one that causes sunburn, and UVA can go through window glass and can come from indoor lighting. Researchers have found that lupus can be activated by both types of UV radiation, and it’s important to understand the difference.

But with a combination of protective clothing, correctly used sunscreen, and a good understanding of how UV can affect you, you can be sun- safe, no matter what season it is.

We've gathered the most important things you need to know for year 'round protection:

• 10 truths about UV radiation 
• What you don’t know about sunscreen, but should 
• 10 wearable ways to protect yourself outdoors 
• 5 need-to-know facts about sun safety