In order to reduce your risk of sunburn and the effects of sun damage to your skin, you should take the following steps;
- 10 am to 4 pm is when the sun is at its strongest. Try to avoid being outside during these hours.
- If you do have to be outside or made plans to go to the beach/pool then you should;
- Wear a wide brimmed hat
- Sunglasses
- Sun protective clothing such as; light colored long sleeve shirt and shorts
- Avoid tanning beds.
- Apply sunscreen.
Sunscreen is very important when protecting your skin from sun damage. Experts recommend using sunscreens with an SPF of 15 and higher. You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and every 2 hours especially after swimming or excessive sweating. You should wear sunscreen even if it is cloudy out because light reflects off water and most other materials so that means it’s still affecting your skin.
If you are suffering from a bad sunburn;
- Drink a lot of fluids
- Moisturize the affected areas
- Take an aspirin to reduce swelling/inflammation
- Apply cool compress for temporary relief
