99TravelSafe.com
41 - Safety in the Sun!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
LIMIT outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the summer months.
Play golf, tennis, swim, etc., in the early morning or late afternoon.
Wear a good pair of sun glasses to ward off the sun from your eyes and some put kind of protection - the looser the better - on your head.
Clouds and particulate matter in the air scatter sunlight.
Therefore, you may receive a "surprise sunburn" even on a cloudy day!
Some drugs & cosmetics - Tetacycline, diuretics, major tranquilizers - may increase susceptibility to sunburn because they contain substances that cause the skin to absorb more of the sun's radiation. These "photosensitivity reactions" may also be caused by birth control pills.
Your physician can advise you about medications that can cause problems in the sun.
Energy from the sun reaches the earth as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet (both UVA and UVB) rays.
The skin reacts to UV light by tanning.
When UV rays hit the skin, the skin makes more melanin. Melanin is the color (pigment) that causes tanning.
Ultraviolet rays react with melanin. This is the first defense against the sun. That’s because melanin absorbs the dangerous UV rays that can do serious skin damage. A sunburn develops when the amount of UV damage exceeds the protection that the skin's melanin can provide. A suntan represents the skin's response to injury from the sun. A small amount of sun exposure is healthy and pleasurable. But too much can be dangerous.
Measures should be taken to prevent overexposure to sunlight.
These preventive measures can reduce the risks of cancers, premature aging of the skin, the development of cataracts and other harmful effects on the human body.
To prevent sunburn and other harmful effects of the sun:
Apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 to all exposed skin
Broad spectrum means the sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Re-apply about every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, whenever possible. Look for clothing with a UV protection factor (UPF) or made of a tightly woven fabric.
The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. They reflect rays of the sun. This can increase your chances of sunburn.
Get vitamin D through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements.
Do not use tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, try using a self-tanning product. But also use sunscreen with it.
Protect your lips with lip balm with at least SPF 15.
Examine your entire skin on a regular basis. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a healthcare provider right away. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
Sand and pavement reflect UV rays even while under an umbrella. Snow and water are also good reflectors of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Reflective surfaces can reflect most of the damaging sun rays. These reflected rays can also do damage to the human body.