How To Stay Protected From Sun

Sun protection is what each and every one of us needs every single day. While the sun is very important for life, the sun’s rays can also be damaging and that is why it is necessary to save yourself from its harmful effects.

Sun protection is not just about using sunscreen, however. It is a complete lifestyle that involves making changes or additions to your clothing and accessories.

Here are a few tips that will help you to stay sun protected in all situations.

How To Stay SunProtected During Daily Life

Sun exposure is an essential part of everyone’s life. You cannot totally avoid it. That is why it is important to make sure that when you set out, you are ready to fight those UVA and UVB rays that are trying to damage your skin. Follow these instructions and you will stay sun protected during your daily activities.

• Applying sunscreen is obviously the first rule. To find out how and when.
• Make sure that you apply it on all the exposed areas. People tend to miss their hands, feet, neck and arms etc., which leads to partial sun damage of the seun protected areas. The neck area is especially important because once skin gets saggy there(turkey neck), it cannot be lifted
• Keep the sunscreen handy. If it is in an easy-to-reach place, you will use it more regularly. So make sure you have sunscreen at home, in your purse, in your car and in your office
• Wear gloves while driving, as your hands are continuously exposed to the sun. This can lead to age spots even if you regularly apply a sunblock, as UV rays are so intense that they can even penetrate through your sunscreen
• It is good to use protective accessories like hats, umbrellas, gloves etc.Darker colours are better as they cope with UV rays in a better way
• It’s better to use clothes with more coverage, such as shirts with full sleeves, when heading out in the sun
• Your sunglasses should be able to fight UV rays, as the skin area around your eyes is also sensitive to photodamage
• Avoid going outside when sunlight is at its strongest, which is between 10 am to 2 pm
• The UV index is a calculation of the number of UV rays in the atmosphere, so keep an eye on the UV index of your area and don’t set out when it is high

How To Stay SunProtected During Times of Extreme Sun Exposure

There are some places where the sun shines brighter than usual and so the chances of sun damage increase. These include beaches, ski slopes and deserts. Some grainy things like sand and snow can reflect sunlight and increase their intensity. Snow can reflect up to 80% of sunrays while sand can reflect up to 17% of sunrays onto your face and body. So sunlight can still affect you if you are under an umbrella in such places. In addition, the sun is more intense at high altitude, so more damage can occur.

This is why you need more than the usual sun protection in such places. Here is what you have to do:

• Use the strongest sunscreens, the ones that contain 15% of zinc oxide or above
• Buy protective clothes that provide UV rays protection, with aUPF rating of 50 or above, and use them when extreme sun protection is needed
• Add accessories for added protection, including hats, umbrella, gloves, arm sleeves, face masks, and scarves etc.
• Use UV protectant agents, which are special laundry detergents that can provide UV protection, while washing your clothes
• Use tightly weaved clothes that allow much less penetration and darker colours, as they provide better UV protection

Sunscreen Mistakes You Should Avoid To Endure Perfect Sun Protection

While applying a sunscreen is important, there are some mistakes that need to be rectified in order to have proper sun protection.

Here are some of the mistakes that you need to avoid:

• Sunscreens are not waterproof, so they must be reapplied once you plunge into water, whether that be in the sea or just a rain shower; otherwise, you will get sunburnt. Water-resistant sunscreens only last for 40-80 minutes so you need to reapply anyway.
• Use an ample amount of sunscreen, i.e. one teaspoon for your face and one ounce for your body. If you use less than that it will provide lower protection and increase the chances of sun damage.
• Reapply your sunscreen! This is very important because sunscreenis only at its best for two hours. After that, you need to reapply it. Sunscreenlasts even less time in the water, i.e. 40 to 80 minutes, so make sure that you reapply after the intervals given.
• Choose the right kind of sunscreen. There are physical and chemical sunscreens that use different mechanisms to prevent sun damage and you need to pick the best one for you.
• Apply sunscreen almost 15 to 20 minutes before you head out in the sun as it takes some time before it starts to work.

All of these tips will help you to stay sun-protected in your daily routine and on holiday