You may do your utmost best to protect your skin from the sun, and you know very well that you should be wearing SPF every day. It’s even more important to put sunscreen on before you spend time out in the sun—and reapply it regularly. But, there’s a lot going on right now, and we understand if it slipped your mind, however you’re now dealing with a sunburn.
With the weather heating up and the holidays on its way, the thought of relaxing while soaking up the sun seems like heaven. The summer holidays offer the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors. Of course, it’s best to always avoid too much-unprotected sun exposure.
Over-exposure to the sun can result in the skin showing symptoms of sun damage, and if not taken care of immediately can cause lasting effects. It doesn’t matter whether your skin is dry or oily, or if you have fair or dark skin, sun damage is a concern for everyone.
Signs of sun damage on the skin
A Sunburn is a red, painful skin reaction that occurs after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light is a type of radiation in sunlight. Even on cloudy days, UV light can pass through clouds and cause sunburn. The symptoms of a sunburn most often appear a few hours after sun exposure. Sun damage can show up on the skin in a variety of ways:
- Dry skin can occur when your skin has been over-exposed to the sun. It can appear dry, flaky, and slightly more wrinkled than areas without sun damage. Dry skin can also cause itching.
- When spending too much time in the sun, especially without applying sunscreen, sunburn can occur. Mild sunburn causes pain and redness, while more severe cases of sunburn can produce painful blisters, and even nausea and dizziness.
- Small bumps that feel like sandpaper or a patch of scaly (peeling) skin with a pink, yellow or brown tint is known as actinic keratosis can occur due to sun damage.
- Long term changes in the skin’s collagen can also be a symptom of sun damage, and can result in fine lines, deeper wrinkles, a thickened skin texture and easy bruising. This happens mostly on the back of the hands and forearms.
How to treat a sunburn
Burnshield emergency burn care products contain sterile hydrogel which immediately and effectively cools and soothes sunburnt skin giving much needed relief after excess sun exposure. Burnshield’s high water content promotes rapid cooling resulting in minimising skin damage. Key benefits for using Burnshield on a sunburn are:
- Sterile
- Absorbs and dissipates heat: minimises burn damage
- Cooling: pain relief and shock reduction
- Clear: easy to assess wound
- Non-adherent: will not stick to wound
- Non-toxic
- Non-irritant
- Safe to use on Children
How to prevent sun damage this summer
Continuous sun damage over time can cause skin cancer, while everyday exposure without sun protection can damage the skin, especially when out during the hottest times of the day. Luckily, it is not all doom and gloom and a few small changes to the way in which we interact with the sun can make a big difference to our skin.
Wear a high SPF sun block:
The most important point when it comes to sun protection is to wear a high SPF sunscreen. Make the application of sunscreen to your body and face part of your morning routine. Don’t forget to top up during the day.
Be sure to choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, like the Solace Suncare Range. Specially formulated with advanced UVA and UVB filters, this non-irritant sunblock helps to protect against sun-induced skin damage and is water and sweat resistant.. It is suitable for the whole family and provides protection both in and out of the water.
Avoid the hottest times of the day:
Do your best to avoid the hottest sun times of the day, from 10:00 to 15:00. The UV rays that cause sunburn are strongest during this time. If you do need to be outside, then wear a high SPF sunscreen, a hat, and find shade.
Wear protective clothing:
If possible, wear protective clothing. Although wearing long sleeves and long pants on a hot summer’s day might not be the look you are going for this summer, it can block out more of the sun and help to protect your skin.
Be extra careful at the beach or pool:
Surfaces like sand and water can reflect the sun’s rays causing sunburn. When around water or sand, be sure to take extra precaution to avoid severe sunburn or sun stroke.
Keep little ones out of the sun:
Babies younger than six months old should be kept out of the sun completely and should be kept in the shade and covered up.
Keeping your skin safe and protected from the sun is simple, and easy. You just need to b diligent about your sun protection when spending time in the sun this summer.
resource: https://www.pricecheck.co.za/blog/how-to-reduce-sun-damage-while-enjoying-the-summer-sun/
