Ultimate Guide to Staying Safe in the Sun
Given the choice, I am one of those people who would much rather be outdoors than shut away inside. I love the Summer months; the lighter nights, the longer days, the bright sunlight beaming through the windows in the morning, and of course, the opportunity to get out in the sunshine with my family and enjoy some much needed fresh air.
That said, I do like to exercise a bit of caution. As someone who is fair skinned and covered in more than my fair share of moles, I have to be careful to protect my skin and ensure that neither I nor my family burn. With a history of skin cancer in my family too, you can never be too careful. That said, there are huge health benefits to exposing your skin to natural daylight when done safely, including helping regulate your body clock, regulate your weight, fight depression and improve overall bone health.
With the help of Sloane & Sons Guide to Staying Safe in the Sun, here are some hints and tips for enjoying the summer responsibly:
- Cover Up! – If more skin you have exposed to the suns UV rays, the higher your risk of getting sunburn. Covering up, particularly sensitive areas or areas prone to sunburn such as shoulders and chest, can really help. The material should be lightweight and opaque but if you can see your hand through the material, it won’t be protecting your skin.
- Use sunscreen – sorry to go all Baz Lurhmann on you, but to quote him “If I could give one peace of advise for the future, sunscreen would be it”. Whilst its recommended we get 15-30 minutes sun exposure on our bare skin each day, after that, you want to be applying sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 15. If you are particularly fair like me, you may wish to consider a factor 30 or above. Depending on the sunscreen (some claim to offer all day or 8 hour protection), you should reapply regularly, particularly if you have been swimming or on the beach, or taken partin physical exercise which may have affected your level of protection.
- Wear a Hat – A wide brimmed hat is the ideal way of protecting not only your scalp, but your ears, back of your neck, shoulders and upper chest. No body wants a sun burned parting – trust me – I’ve been there, and the resulting peely scalp is NOT a good look!
- Wear UV Protective Sunglasses – you don’t have to spend a huge amount of money on shades (unless you really want to), but should ensure that they are designed to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and not just a glamorous fashion accessory. If you’re wearing shades, you may also wish to apply a little extra sunscreen to your face, unless the panda look is your make up of choice.
- Avoid the midday sun – whilst its great to get out in the sunshine, the midday sun (between the hours of 10 and 4) should be avoided where possible. For families, early mornings and late afternoons are ideal as not only do they tend to be cooler, but the suns rays are a little less harsh on their young skin.
You can read the full guide from Sloane & Sons and see other benefits and risks of sun exposure over on their website.
How do you keep your family safe in the sunshine?
*This is a collaborative post*
