Summer is here and for most of us, that means long hot days and plenty of time spent outside in the sun. Unfortunately, we're all susceptible to painful and potentially life threatening sunburns. In this blog we'll give you a few tips for preventing, or if it is too late, treating mild sunburns. Unfortunately, covering your body with our stick on labels is not advised.
First things first, let's go over a few basic facts about the sun and its potential to burn our skin. The peak "sunburn" hours are from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. UV rays are worse at higher elevations. UV rays can reflect off sand, water, snow, and other reflective surfaces, so big hats or umbrellas aren't always enough. Also, don't forget that you can get burned even when its cloudy, foggy or hazy. Everyone is at risk of sunburn although some skin types will burn more or less than others.
The most effective way to avoid getting burnt is to minimize your exposure to the sun, but we all know that isn't always easy, and sometimes impossible. Wearing lightweight long sleeved shirts and pants is a great way to keep your skin covered. Beach umbrellas and large brimmed hats will also help keep the sun off you to a great extent. If you're going to be outside for prolonged periods of time, make sure you apply sunscreen and don't forget to reapply after getting wet. If you can, duck into the shade as much as possible to give your skin a break. Also - keep hydrated with plenty of water.
OK, so let's say you found our blog after a long day in the sun, and you or your kids are already turning the lovely lobster shade of red. The next 24 hours probably won't be the most comfortable. Here's a list of ways to alleviate the discomfort and speed up the healing process;
- A cold bath/showers will help with pain just remember to air dry or gently pat your skin with a towel.
- Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
- Take the recommended dose of an over the counter pain reliever.
- ALOE! This is a life saver. Aloe will help reduce pain and discomfort as well as help heal the burned area. Apply as often as needed.
- Staying hydrated is also important with healing and discomfort.
We hope that these tips help you and your family avoid the uncomfortable and unhealthy effects of the sun's potentially harmful UV rays, and if not we hope the treatment tips work for you. Don't forget to label your favorite beach umbrella, your bottle of sunscreen, coolers, and anything else you might bring with you to the beach so that everything makes it home with you!
BE ADVISED - if you or someone in your family gets a serious sunburn - please call your doctor or seek medical attention. That advice is especially important if you have a child younger than 12 months old that gets a burn. It may not look that bad, but a sunburn in a youngster can be more serious than it appears. When in doubt - call your doctor!
AUTHOR - Steve Roach
