Many people love summertime and the sunshine that comes with it but those that like to enjoy the summer months outdoors should be aware of the damage that can be caused by extensive exposure to the sun. A sun burn may seem fun when it turns into a tan but the damage that your skin is being subjected to can have lasting effects that are often quite dangerous. Skin cancer is not worth that great tan or all those delightful hours of lazing around the beach. Following a few simple tips will help you to enjoy those hot summer days without causing so much damage to your precious skin.
The first and most obvious way to protect your skin in the sun is to use a high SPF sunscreen product. The SPF of a sunscreen product is the Sun Protection Factor. This number can range from an SPF of 5 all the way up to 50+. The SPF of a sunscreen is measured by applying the lotion, spray, or gel and determining how long it takes for sunburn to occur with the sunscreen applied. Higher SPF sunscreens obviously contain more protection but applying any sunscreen is better than applying none at all. It is wise, though, to be sure that the highest SPF possible is used on children in order to avoid damaging their delicate and sensitive skin. Applying sunscreen and reapplying every few hours as well as after being in the water is the protection for your s and your child s skin when subjected to the damaging rays of the sun.
Another way to protect your skin from the sun is by keeping certain portions of your body covered. The scalp is one of the most sensitive areas of the body when it comes to the sun but protection can easily be obtained by wearing a hat or scarf on the head. Often lightweight hats made out such materials as straw can be found and are made specifically to be worn when spending time in the sun. Another area of the body easily covered are the eyes. The eyes can be subjected to extensive and lasting damage from exposure to the sun but simply wearing sunglasses will greatly reduce the damage. Sunglasses, much like sunscreen, also have a UV protection index. This number should be taken into consideration when shopping for sunglasses and higher UV protection should always be used for children. It also helps to cover areas of the body that can be covered with clothing whenever you are not in the water.
Finally, the last tip for staying safe in the sun is to pay attention to which time of day you are out in the sun. The sun is the hottest between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm so exposure should be avoided during this time if at all possible. If you do happen to find yourself outside during this time it is wise to try to stay in a shaded area as much as possible.
By following these few simple tips you and your family can enjoy the sunshine without putting your health in jeopardy.
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