10 TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE IN THE SUN

When it comes to staying safe in the sun I think we can all hold our hands up and admit that we were a little stupid when we were younger.

However, as we all know is very important for skin health, it’s never too late to make a change.But Let’s Face it aside from the scary c word nobody wants to look like a lobster with skin damage, so here are 10 tips for staying safe in the sunlight.

1) Stay out of the sun at its hottest part of the day

The sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so you should avoid being out in direct sunshine during those hours. That is a reasonably long window though, so it’s not always possible. I find that definitely avoiding the hours of 1 pm to 3 pm helped to stop get burnt.

2)Wear Sun Cream

I actually hope that this one goes without saying for safe in the sun, but wearing sun cream with at least an SPF of 30 and that blocks both UVA and UVB rays is so important! Honestly, I cringe to think of people use baby oil just because they want a tan. I never use anything under SPF 30 personally. Put it on 15 minutes before you are going out in the sunshine too.

3) Reapply Sun Cream

You have applied sun cream-* high five *. Well, now you have to keep reapplying it. If you have been sweating lots, or if you have been in the pool, put some more on and make sure you are protected.

4) Get some sunburn relief

If you love to be outdoors as much as possible when the weather is good, then it’s inevitable that you aren’t going to be in the shade very much. If you do catch a bit too much sun, make sure you have some after sun. I always prefer pure Aloe Vera on hand just in case I cannot listen to my own advice as we all so sometimes.

5) Protect your head

Who doesn’t love a good summer time accessory? Well, a hat isn’t just a fabulous fashion option, but it will keep your head protected from the sun too( this is especially important for kids ). Try to choose a wide-brimmed hat too and it will protect your shoulders as well.

6) Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement

Whilst you might be buzzing about all those bargain sunglasses that you picked up in Primark, they aren’t going to protect you from the sun. They should have UV filters to make sure your eyes are protected to help you stay safe.

7) Try not to cover up with clothes too much

Covering up with clothes is a great idea, but they might not be providing all the protection you need. If your t-shirt or top is a loose weave material and you can see through the cloth so can the sun’s rays, and they can sneak through and cause sunburn. If that’s the case, make sure you apply the sunscreen liberally underneath too. Remember to reapply often. Most SPF products only work if you keep repeatedly slathering them on every 1 to 2 hours.

8) Make sure children are protected

It’s important to practice sun safety from a young age. Make sure your children are covered up is essential to stay safe in the sun. Try to keep them in the shade as much as possible and you maintain reapplying their sun cream. It’s important for them to see you practicing these habits also – to be a good example.

9) Stay Hydrated

It’s always important to make sure you are drinking plenty of water safe in the sun, but that is especially true when you are in the sun. Maintain a bottle of water with you and make sure you are having one glass of water in between each of those cocktails in the sunlight.

10) Get with the times

Always check your sunscreen bottle for an expiry date; you should never use sun cream after the use-by date, because you won’t be protected from the sun’s harmful rays.