We all love being out in the sun, and some of us even enjoy lying out in it and bathing in its warmth. The problem is, as much as we like the sun, it is extremely dangerous, and can be life-threatening when we don’t take the right precautions. With this in mind, here are some of the best ways to protect yourself from sun damage so you can enjoy the heat and not get sick. Read on to find out more.
Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is one of the – and perhaps the – most effective ways of staying safe in the sun. Although ideally you should wear long sleeves and pants, this is not always practical, so sunscreen is a good alternative to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.
Sunscreen blocks the UV rays of the sun and prevents the heat from burning your skin. You should wear sunscreen on any exposed area of skin every time you go outside, even if it looks cloudy or hazy. You might not be able to feel the sun, but it is there.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses from Just-glasses.co.uk are a must when you are in the sun as they can help to prevent some eye conditions that the sun’s rays cause. Too much exposure to the sun can lead to macular degeneration, pterygium, and cataracts, and wearing sunglasses – as long as they have UV protection – will help to keep your eyes safe and healthy.
Not only that, but sunglasses will make being out in the sun a lot more comfortable too. Squinting into the brightness is not pleasant, and if you have to carry out tasks such as driving, or even if you want to enjoy the good weather, wearing sunglasses will help make that possible.
Rehydration
Although you might think of your skin and eyes initially when it comes to protection from the sun, the rest of your body is also at risk due to the problems associated with dehydration. The warmer it is, the more we sweat, and the more we sweat, the more fluid we are losing from our bodies. This can very quickly lead to dehydration which in its severest form can be fatal. Even if you aren’t hospitalized because of dehydration, you can become confused, moody, uncoordinated, and you will find that you develop terrible headaches at the very least.
Therefore, always have a bottle or flask of water with you when you are out in the sun – or when you are out in any weather. As adults, we need to drink around 11.5 to15.5 cups of water a day and more in the summer. Unless you have water with you and continue to sip it all day, you could become sick or at least less productive than you should be.
Wear a Hat
We mentioned long sleeves and pant legs earlier on and discussed how they might not be entirely practical when it’s hot. What is always practical, however, is a hat. Make sure you wear a hat when you go outside (and ideally a wide-brimmed one), and you will be protecting yourself in many ways. This includes protecting your eyes, your face, and your scalp.