How to Stay Safe in the Sun

Take sunscreen with SPF with you on a sunny day. This will prevent sunburn and decrease the risk of getting skin cancer. Always remember to wear sunscreen, even under your clothing, since most materials will allow UV light to penetrate through it. Always buy sunscreen with higher SPF value which will give you more UV light protection. The values can vary from as low as 4 SPF to 80 SPF.

Consider wearing a hat or some covering for your head to prevent scalp burn and decrease the risk of sun stroke. There are many different types and styles available, but the most important factor to consider in choosing a hat is the brim size and the extent of coverage it gives. You should pick a hat or head cover that protects the scalp, eyes, ears and back of the neck and shoulder. The head and neck areas are more prone to getting burnt because people tend to forget about protecting them.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day if you spend it outdoors. It is advisable to buy water containing electrolytes, for example Gatorade or Smartwater. These will help to decrease your risk of dehydration from the loss of salts and electrolytes due to increased perspiration and sweating.

You can purchase a variety of special SPF-treated sun clothing from specialty stores that will give you extra protection from the sun's UV rays. These types of clothing are assigned SPF values.
* There is an easy test to see how much or little protection you will get from wearing a particular piece of clothing. Hold the garment up in the air and into the direct rays of the sun. If you can see a lot of sunlight penetrating the garment, then this garment has a very low SPF value and will not give you protection from sunlight.

Remember to periodically replenish the sunscreen lotion onto the exposed areas of your body when you are participating in a sport or game. Bike riding is fun on a sunny day, but most people forget or don't think it is necessary to cover their skin with sunscreen. Remember, you can still get a sunburn even if you are not static and immobile. When bike riding, also take plenty of water and store an emergency survival kit in the bike's carry bag.

Cover exposed areas with sunscreen while swimming and remember to reapply every hour. One of the most common ways people get badly burned is while they're having fun in the water.

Rub in sunscreen lotion before driving and wind up the car windows during the drive. You are more likely to get a sunburn from sitting in a car for long periods of time, especially in the driver's seat. Tinted windows can also help reduce the chance of sunburn. Use a sunshade for the front windshield to reduce and reflect sunlight away from the interior of the car.

Pick a pair of sunglasses that will give you the maximum amount of protection. The darker tinted glasses will have a higher SPF value and will thus help decrease UV penetration into the eyes.