Sun protection

Added: 07/01/2005

Being prepared for the sun is priority number one when you are on vacations. Take any sun protection measures to decrease chances of unhealthy skin caused by the sun.

Contrary to popular myth, a good tan is not a measure of good health, but actually a sign of skin injury. How annoying is it to see a big, peeling nose in front of you? What about a forehead that looks like it came straight from an atomic bomb test? If you're not into sun protection hats and other sunscreen products, you could be in for some expensive medical bills in the future.

Too much sun can cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, skin texture changes, dilated blood vessels, rash problems and worst of all, deadly skin cancers.

Sunlight is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Veins and bones become more prominent, and your skin can take longer to heal.

Staying out of the sun can help postpone these changes. Although nothing can completely undo sun damage, the skin sometimes can repair itself.

So being prepared for the sun is priority number one when you are on vacations. Take any sun protection measures to decrease chances of unhealthy skin caused by the sun. In other words, try to protect yourself from head to toe.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 on all exposed skin, including the lips.

Wear sun protection hats. We are lucky to have a great variety of them nowadays. There are hats specially designed for sport-goers. Mountain bikers have helmets with visors to block out the sun's rays, while golfers often wear large straw hats to protect exposed areas of the head. It's difficult to wear a hat while participating in water sports, but sunscreen and swimming caps often do the trick when sun protection hats aren't available.

Beach umbrellas are also should not be neglected. Sometimes, sunscreen and sun protection hats just don't do the job of stopping the sun from beating down on those of us with active lifestyles. Using an umbrella is almost like being indoors, yet one still enjoys the benefit of the sea and the breeze. Instead of using a towel to cover yourself or some day-old newspaper, try a beach umbrella and you won't be sorry.

Even cloudy days do not restrict the UV rays from penetrating your epidermis. Whether beach umbrellas are available or not, using sunscreen products and wearing sun protection hats should be the rule and not the exception on cloudy days. Types of sun protection clothing include pants and shirts that deflect the sun's rays and gloves.

There are special clothing designed for sun protection. That is what you really need to protect your skin from sun. Such clothing has a hang tag that includes an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (or "UPF") rating. This hang tag may say "BLOCKS 98% UV - Excellent UV Protection - UPF 50+". This UPF rating for fabrics - which is similar to the SPF rating on sunscreen - was pioneered in Australia a decade ago and is now used in Australia on almost 4 million sun protective clothing items each year. For example, a garment with a UPF of 50 only allows 1/50th of the UV radiation falling on the surface of the garment to pass through it. In other words, it blocks 49/50ths or 98% of the UV radiation.

Parents should be especially concerned about their children's exposure to UV rays. Sun protection must involve clothing that deflects heat and is comfortable. Hats must cover the face, ears and back of the neck. If you do not follow this simple advice for sun protection, you are opening yourself up to a painful burn and possibly long-term skin damage. People who teach their children proper behavior regarding sun protection at an early age give those kids a much better chance of avoiding skin cancer altogether.

To sum up, follow the listed below tips that will protect your skin from sunburn and help it be younger and freshly looking:

Use a protective sunscreen to minimize the penetration of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Reapply sunscreen frequently. If exposed to water, either through swimming or sweating, a water-resistant sunscreen should be used;

· Wear protective clothing, including:

· A broad-brimmed hat,

· A shirt with sleeves that cover the arms, and

· A long skirt or pants with long legs;