1. Stay Inside When It's Scorching Hot Out
Avoid direct sun between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The sun is hottest during these hours and more likely to cause damaging sunburn. If you must be outdoors during these hours, be sure to protect yourself thoroughly and seek shade as often as you can.
2. Smear on the Sunscreen
Wearing a sunscreen that contains at least 15 SPF every day is adequate for most people. Look for cosmetics that contain sunscreen to protect you from the sun's harmful rays. You want to keep the sun from your skin as much as possible to avoid burns that can lead to skin cancer. Apply sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. While both types of rays burn you, UVA rays are the most harmful. UVA rays penetrate more deeply, but UVB rays play a big role in contributing to painful sunburns. Pay attention to areas that are easy to overlook your ears, the back of your neck and the backs of your knees are very susceptible to burns and often get missed when you're applying sunscreen.
3. Cover Up for Sun Safety
Before you head out for a day in the hot sun, cover up with clothing as much as possible. Darker colors will help prevent UV rays from reaching your skin better than light colored clothing. Tight woven materials are also more effective at blocking UV rays from your skin than loosely woven materials. Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your face, and throw on a pair of sunglasses for good measure. Check out sun protective clothing with built in UV protection for extra protection.
4. Hydrate When It's Hot Out
Drink plenty of water when it's hot outside. You're susceptible to dehydration whenever you're in the sun for extended periods. If you don't like plain water, try adding a slice of lemon or orange to it for added flavor. Sports drinks and juice are fine, but often loaded with sugar. Drink them, but alternate each sugary drink with a glass of water.
5. Reflections That Burn
One of the lesser known sun safety tips is to be aware of the power of reflections if you're going to swim or be near the water. Even if it doesn't seem sunny outside, water reflects sunlight that will burn you quicker. It's also difficult to know when you're getting too much sun if you're in cool water and not getting too hot. Keep this in mind and seek shade after your swim. Sunscreen should be reapplied regularly when you've been in the water, especially after drying off with a towel. Snow and sand reflect sun just as the water does, so be sure to protect your skin from the sun on the mountain as well as the beach.
