The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can harm your skin in as little as fifteen minutes. Because of this, it’s important that you check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) UV Index for your region.
The immediate danger that comes from being exposed to the sun is sunburn. If you were to look at skin that’s been sunburned under a strong enough microscope, you would see blood vessels and skin cells that have been damaged. By knowing how to prevent sunburn, you’ll be able to better protect yourself.
If your skin experiences repeated damage from the sun, then it can start to look leathery, discolored, wrinkly, and dry. Although your skin might appear to be thicker, it will actually become weaker. And that means that it will bruise more easily.
With all that said, the most serious threat that comes from the sun is skin cancer. The sun is a major contributor to this kind of cancer and it’s now the most common kind of cancer. It’s important to recognize that most skin cancers can actually be avoided simply by preventing sun damage.
Keep on reading and we’ll take you through our tips on how to prevent sunburn.
1. Shade
You can greatly lower your risk of skin cancer and skin damage in general by seeking shade before you need to get relief from the sun. This can be shade from a tree, an umbrella, or some other form of shelter. Your best option is to wear protective clothing when you’re outside or use sunscreen, even when you’re in the shade.
2. Clothing
Whenever possible, you should wear shirts with long sleeves and long skirts and pants that can provide you with protection from UV rays. Clothes that are made from tightly woven fabric will offer you some of the best protection.
There are even clothes that are made specifically to block UV rays. Make sure that you learn about the benefits of UV clothing today. Also, some clothing is certified under international standards and they come with information on their UV protection factor.
It’s also worth pointing out that a shirt that’s wet won’t provide you with a lot of UV protection. Because of this, you should make sure that you’re clothes are dry whenever possible.
And lighter colors will likely offer you less protection than dark ones. If wearing this kind of clothing isn’t practical for you, then you should at least try to wear a beach cover-up or a T-shirt.
Try to remember that a standard T-shirt has an SPF rating that’s lower than 15, so make sure to use other kinds of protection as well.
3. Hat
In order to achieve the most protection from the sun, you should wear a hat that has a brim all the way around. It should provide shade for the back of your neck, ears, and face.
A fabric that’s tightly woven is going to be best to protect your skin from the sun’s rays. You should avoid straw hats that have holes and let sunlight through.
A lighter hat will likely provide you with less sun protection than a darker one.
If you decide to wear a baseball cap, then you should also make sure that you protect your ears and the back of your neck. You can do this by wearing clothes that cover those areas, staying in the shade, or by using a broad spectrum sunscreen.
4. Sunglasses
You can lower the risk of cataracts and protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses will also make sure that the skin around your eyes is protected from the sun’s harmful rays.
Sunglasses that block both kinds of ultraviolet rays will offer you the best protection. Most sunglasses that are sold in the United States should meet this standard, regardless of how expensive they are.
Wrap-around sunglasses are ideal because they block ultraviolet rays from hitting you from the side.
5. Sunscreen
Before you go outside, you should put on broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Even if it’s a cool or cloudy day. The sun’s UV rays can break through the clouds.
It’s also important to note that you should wear sunscreen with other forms of UV protection in order to make sure that you’re fully protected.
Sunscreen works by scattering, reflecting, or absorbing sunlight. These products contain chemicals that interact with the skin and protect it from UV rays.
All sunscreen products won’t have the same chemicals and if your skin reacts badly to one product, then you should try another.
Sunscreens are given a sun protection factor (SPF) number. This number rates how effective the product is at blocking the sun’s rays.
Higher numbers will provide you with more protection. It’s a good idea to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
The Importance of Knowing How to Prevent Sunburn
Hopefully, after reading the article above, you now have a better idea of how to prevent sunburn. As we can see, you can best protect yourself by combining the various tips listed above. You should always wear sunscreen when you go outside and make sure that you wear protective clothing as well.
And remember to check the UV index so that you can know how to better prepare each day.
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