Photoprotection and the Environment

Contact with the environment and participation in outdoor activities are encouraged for achieving a healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, they lead to greater exposure to solar radiation, resulting in skin diseases. Thus, photoprotective measures are indicated to prevent the deleterious effects of the sun on all age groups and skin types. The implementation of strategies such as choosing the most appropriate times, places, clothes, and accessories during occupational, sports, and recreational outdoor exposure, complemented by the use of sunscreens, can minimize the risks of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The UV index should be used as a tool to improve awareness of the attitudes and behaviors regarding exposure and sun protection. This chapter discusses preventive actions to avoid skin damage caused by sun exposure during interactions with the environment.