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Perhaps one of the most common types of burns that people will suffer from is a sunburn. When the weather turns warm and school gets out, more and more people turn to the outdoors as... |
Perhaps one of the most common types of burns that people will suffer from is a sunburn. When the weather turns warm and school gets out, more and more people turn to the outdoors as a way to have fun and relax. While getting outside can be a great way to get exercise or reduce stress, it also puts you at risk for a sunburn. Learning how to protect your skin from the sun can be an important step in not only avoiding burns, but protecting the health of your skin.
Overexposure to the sun is the main cause of sunburn. While you are out at the beach, doing yard work, or just playing soccer with the kids the sun is constantly hitting your skin (even on a cloudy day). The ultraviolet rays penetrate your skin cells, causing them to burn. As a result, your skin can start to feel hot, become red, and you may even have additional symptoms like dizziness. If you continue to remain in the sun, the burn will continue to worsen, to the point where the skin will start to blister and peel and become painful. Repeated overexposure to the sun and sunburns can also lead to an increased risk of skin cancer and other problems. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you take steps to protect your skin before going out in the sun.
However, it is unrealistic to expect someone to stay indoors all summer, especially when there are so many benefits to getting out in the fresh air. Instead, you should simply take extra precautions to make sure that your skin is protected from the sun. Suntan lotions are one of the best preventatives that you can use, and come in a variety of strengths depending on your age and the amount of time you plan on spending in the sun. Hats, umbrellas, and sunglasses can also help to protect your skin and eyes from a burning by helping to block some of the sun’s rays. Staying indoors or out of the sun during the brightest and warmest parts of the day will also help.
You also have to be aware of your body’s cues that you are getting too warm and receiving too much sun. If you start to feel like you are getting overly warm, you should move out of the sun or indoors as soon as possible. This will allow your skin cells to relax and help prevent a burn. Also use this time to reapply sunscreen (read the instructions on the bottle carefully, since most people do not reapply sunscreen often enough) and to rehydrate. This will help you prevent a sunburn before one starts.
The risk of sunburn should not keep you indoors all summer. Feel free to enjoy the nicer weather while it lasts. However, make sure that you take the steps necessary to avoid a sunburn will help to make your summer months safer and more comfortable and reduce your risks of developing unpleasant side effects due to sun exposure.