Ahhhh, Summer!
Many of us love spending time in the sunshine – whether it’s spending time with family, heading off on our holidays or simply being outdoors. Soaking up the sun has been to shown to contribute to our physical and emotional wellbeing – not only does it provide us with the all-important Vitamin D our bodies need (helping us to maintain healthy bones and fight off bacteria and viruses), but it can also improve our mood – producing ‘feel good’ hormones, as well as chemicals that help us concentrate, and even sleep better.
While many people enjoy warmer summer weather, hot weather can cause some people to become unwell through overheating (becoming uncomfortably hot), dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
But, with preparation and planning we can enjoy being outside on lovely days and minimise the risks of too much, or too little sun.
So, whether you’re heading off on your summer holidays or simply looking to spend more time in the garden this Summer…
Here are 6 ways to stay safe in the sun!
- Cover up with suitable clothing – including sun hats!
Clothing should always be your first line of defence against damage from the sun. Try to cover up as much of the skin as is possible, paying special attention to the shoulders which burn easily. Consider t-shirts and sun hats even when in the water, especially for children and those who burn easily. As the weather can reach high temperatures, be mindful of not getting too hot when covered up – wearing loose-fitting clothing such as a light cotton t-shirt or a linen shirt can help protect you from the sun but keep your body cool.
- Keep on top of suncream
Applying suncream regularly is essential for protecting your skin from the sun. If you apply a sunscreen of SPF30, it would take 30 times longer for your skin to redden than if you didn’t wear any. SPF50 sunscreens protects you from 98% of UV light – and is the most recommended. Re-apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside and a minimum of every 2 hours – this includes after swimming, exercise, sweating and towelling. If you’re going for a dip in the pool, make sure you choose a water-resistant sunscreen. Using an amount of sun cream equivalent to the size of a golf ball or 6 teaspoons to cover your entire body will help to protect your skin – and don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your eyelids and ears!
- Stay hydrated
Being out in the sun can make you feel thirsty, so naturally, you’ll want a nice cold drink to cool you down. Avoid sugary and fizzy drinks as they won’t hydrate you as much as water does. Too much sun exposure can lead to dehydrated skin, which is more prone to sun damage.Keeping yourself hydrated is an easy way to maintain good skin health. Aim to drink around six to eight glasses of water a day. An easier way to do this is to keep a large bottle of water with you on days out and make sure you drink it throughout the day. If you feel dehydrated during the day due to sun exposure, you may feel dizzy, tired or thirsty – so be sure to drink regularly!
- Spend time in the shade
Keeping cool in the shade is a great way to protect yourself from the sun, especially if you are fair skinned. Just 10 minutes of strong sunshine is all it takes to begin to burn pale skin. Find some shade whenever possible, but especially in the middle of the day, between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. This can give your skin a break from intense sun rays and keep you cool!
- Don’t forget your sunglasses!
It’s super important to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that have built-in UV protection. Look for sunglasses with a CE mark. This marking means the sunglasses conform with the European health and safety standards. These sunglasses will offer you a good level of protection against UV light.
- Keeping cool
A great way of keeping your body cool is by keeping your home cool – you can do this by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun, giving you an extra place to have a break from the sun, in addition to shaded areas. If you’re on holiday, take regular breaks from the sunshine by resting in air-conditioned rooms or shaded areas.
The Paycare team hope you have a wonderful Summer and remember, stay safe in the sun!
*Sources:
GOV.UK
British Skin Foundation
Lloyds Pharmacy
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