Protecting yourself from Sunburn

Summer is the time when most of us love being outside. Perhaps it is the warm weather, or the beautiful flowers, or the lovely breeze or the bright sunshine, but summer is the time when we all feel good and look good. However, despite all the goodness that summer brings, it has its drawbacks as well. A lot of exposure to the sun can cause your skin to burn and damage the cells in your body which may lead to skin cancer or melanoma. Extreme exposure to the sun can also cause premature aging and wrinkles as well as freckles, sunspots and other skin problems to appear. Therefore, it is very important that you take precautions before you step out into the sun in the summer.

In the summer, many people jump out into the sun without wearing any sun block and sun screen and intentionally burn themselves. A sunburn destroys the outer layer of your skin and it can lead to serious problems including skin cancer. Also, the more often a sunburn occurs, the greater the risk you have of developing skin cancer. So, it is very important that you wear sun block to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.

Another thing that you should keep in mind when stepping out during the summer is to apply sun lotion 20 or 30 minutes before going outside so that it absorbs fully into your skin. You should also reapply lotion after swimming or if you have been sweating excessively. Putting on lotion after stepping out in the sun and failing to reapply lotion after a swim will not protect your skin properly. Also, it is wise to stay indoors when the sun outside is strong. The sun is the hottest between noon and 3 p.m. So, avoid bathing under the sun at these hours as it increases your chances of being sun burned. It is also good to spend less time in the water during summer. This may be very hard especially when it is stifling, but spending time in the water increases your chances of getting sunburned. But if you can't contain yourself, make sure you wear lots sun block and most importantly, make sure the sun block you wear is water resistant. Finally, wear protective clothing such as a hat or sunglasses or a long sleeved shirt to protect yourself from the sun. Also, don't forget about your lips. Your lips can get sunburned. So, smear some lip balm and keep them moist when you are out in the sun.