How To Protect Yourself From The Sun – As temperatures rise over the next few weeks, it’s time to take advantage of these beautiful sunny days while protecting yourself from the sun. Here are helpful tips from Live Doctors to enjoy the summer safely.

There’s nothing better than a sunny day to lift your spirits. And for a good reason, exposure to sunlight increases serotonin levels in the body, also known as the “happiness hormone”.

Then, it is essential not to overdo it, especially in summer. Among the people particularly vulnerable to the effects of the sun, there are babies and children and adults and particularly those whose complexion is paler, people who have moles or who have blond/red hair or those who work outdoors.

Why Protect Yourself From The Sun?

Outlaying too much time in the sun can also have downsides and can even be dangerous to your health. Too long exposure to the sun can cause sunstroke, sunburn, heatstroke, UV hives, or increase the risk of developing skin cancer.

The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that currently, there are 2-3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers every year worldwide.

How Long Is The Sun Dangerous?

UVA and UVB rays and choosing an index in Moderation are critical for sun exposure. Most people can safely stay in the sun for 5-15 minutes without sunscreen. But this exposure time also depends on the color of your skin. For example, if you are very pale, you are at greater risk of burns and skin lesions.

You have to protect your skin if you want to stay longer in the sun. In comparison, it’s always best to seek shade and wear covering clothing. If you want to or can’t,  opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects both according to your complexion.

What Are The Ways To Protect Yourself From The Sun?

There are several ways to protect manually from the sun effectively. Here are some general WHO guidelines that we advise you to avoid any inconvenience.

Limit The Time Of Exposure To The Midday Sun

In France, the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 12 and 4 p.m. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid exposing yourself to the sun during these hours by using sunglasses, a hat, and light clothing during intense sunshine.

Allows you to plan your outdoor activities to avoid overexposure to the sun’s rays. Its numerical value starts at one and can go up to 12. The higher the UV index, the greater the risk of lesions or rashes and the less time it takes for these lesions to occur—increased vigilance obligatory in a very high UV index.

Take Care When Using Certain Products

The use of certain products, coupled with exposure to the sun, can have harmful effects on your body. Particularly the case for specific drugs or cosmetics. Perfume, for example, can lead to the appearance of permanent brown spots on your skin when you expose it to UV rays.

Shade Wisely

Seek shade when UV rays are most potent, but remember that shade from trees, umbrellas, or awnings does not provide complete sun protection.

Wear protective clothing

A wide-brimmed hat provides good sun protection for the eyes, ears, face and neck. Loose, tightly knit clothing will also give you extra protection.

Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen is vital to protect yourself from the sun. It should apply regularly and generously. Several indices and protection categories exist, and the choice will be complete according to your complexion. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the indicator you must consider when choosing your sunscreen.

Choosing The Right Spa

The protection index will depend on your skin type and the sunshine conditions (beach, mountain, time, duration, etc.). The lighter the skin, the higher the protection factor must be. You can therefore choose between:

  • The indices 6 and 10 are similar to “weak” protection;
  • The indices 15, 20 and 25 correspond to “medium” protection;
  • Indexes 30 and 50 are associated with “high protection.”
  • The +50 indexes come under the order of “very high protection.”
  • Always check the expiry date on your sunscreen and store it at a temperature below 30°C.

If light colors give you a feeling of freshness, in reality, dark colors absorb UV rays the best. For optimal sun protection, opt for shades of this type.

Stay Hydrated

It is vital to stay well hydrated after being exposed to the sun. Drink at least 1.5L of water to avoid dehydration. However, avoid the consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can have a vasodilating effect when consumed in direct sunlight, increasing the risk of feeling unwell.

Why Protect Your Eyes From The Sun?

When your eyes daylight, it also helps regulate your “circadian rhythm” or sleep/wake cycle. Indeed, sunlight influences many bodily processes. For example, direct sunlight stimulates the retina of the eye.  It has the effect of regulating melatonin production, a hormone that affects mood and sleep.

However, continuous and bright exposure to sunlight can damage the eyes.  It can finally lead to diseases such as cataracts (the most common cause of treatable blindness) or macular degeneration, joint in people over 60. To avoid prolonged exposure, wearing sunglasses is highly recommended.

If in doubt or if you need medical advice, call your doctor. If he is not available, a doctor on life will be able to answer your questions.

How To Protect A Child From The Sun?

In children, the skin is more delicate and therefore more sensitive to the sun than adult skin, and skin damage from repeated exposure can lead to skin cancer later.

Various researches show that getting sunburned at an early age puts you at greater risk of skin cancer later. A study reveals that people with five severe sunburns (with blisters) between 15 and 20 were 80% more likely to develop melanoma (the most aggressive form of skin cancer). , they need to spend more time in the

To protect a child from the sunshade than in direct sunlight. It would help if you also recalled making him wear loose and comfortable clothes, such as t-shirts, shorts or long dresses, without forgetting the essential hats and sunglasses.

Research has shown that parents should pay special attention to sun protection for children approaching adolescence, as they are less likely to engage in sun protection behaviors

The Benefits Of The Sun

Sun exposure has several benefits. We all need light to produce vitamin D, which is essential for our bones, teeth, and muscles and supports our immune system and mental health.

Your body makes vitamin D from direct sunlight on your skin outdoors. We all need vitamin D to engross calcium and phosphate from our diets and keep our bones, teeth, muscles and immune system healthy.

How much sun do we need for our health? According to the WHO, there is no doubt that a bit of sunshine is beneficial to health. Five to fifteen minutes of occasional sun exposure, 2 to 3 times a week during the summer months, is sufficient. Closer to the equator, higher UV levels and even shorter exposures are adequate.