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Sun bunnies rejoice: it is possible to enjoy the sun without getting burned, even if you spend as much of every summer day outdoors as you possibly can.
Protecting your skin isn’t always easy, especially if you’re trying to stay cool in the process. But adequate sun protection is extremely important, both for kids and for adults alike. A high temperature and mid-day sun can work together to cause as much as second-degree burns with blisters. Each repeated sunburn throughout your life raises your risk for side effects like cancer, age spots, wrinkles, and dry skin.
Headed out into the summer sun? Stay safe and prevent sunburns with these five summer safety tips for enjoying the summer without getting burned.
1. Use the Right SPF
The fist of our summer safety tips might seem like common sense; however, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that the majority of Americans do NOT use sunscreen. In addition to using sunscreen, it is important to make sure that you are using the correct SPF.
Sunscreen is only effective if you wear it properly in first place. That’s especially true of the SPF rating. The higher the number, the greater the protection gained, so don’t be afraid to use high-SPF sunscreens even if you only plan to be out a short time. They aren’t unnecessary; most experts agree that you should wear at least an SPF 30 if not an SPF 60 at all times, regardless of your skin color or condition.
The type of sunscreen you use may also matter. Barrier sunscreens that contain zinc (often sold in stick form for the face) may provide better protection for sensitive areas like the forehead, nose, and shoulders, especially if you’re fair. Sunscreens that apply clear are still effective, but don’t have the added advantage of providing an opaque barrier at the same time.
Finally, be sure to use your sunscreen correctly in the first place. Apply sunscreen at least 20 to 30 minutes prior to heading outside. If you’re swimming, sweating, or highly active, reapply your sunscreen once every 30 minutes or so.
2. Avoid the Hottest Summer Sun
If temperatures are extremely high outside, the next of our summer safety tips will be important to prevent sunburns. Avoid being out in the sun between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. and save your outdoor activities for before and after. This is when the sun is highest and most likely to cause sunburns in the first place. On especially hot days, you may even wish to extend this further by one to two hours in either direction, especially if you have fair skin.
Think you can’t get burned outside of these hours? Think again. It’s possible to find yourself on the receiving end of a nasty sunburn even from being outside for just a few hours at the end of the day. Be sure to apply sunscreen no matter what time of the day you head outdoors.
3. Cover Up With Light Clothing
If you must head out into the sun, go old-fashioned and bring along a parasol, a beach umbrella, or a wide-brimmed hat. Even a modicum of shade and protection from direct sunlight can help. Wear light yet opaque clothing whenever possible. Avoid meshes and net fabrics as the sun can penetrate them and burn you anyway.
Sport clothing works especially well in the sun because it’s specifically designed to keep you cool in the heat, especially if it wicks away sweat.
Avoid wearing black or dark colors; they’ll attract more heat and make you uncomfortably sweaty as you go about your day. Also avoid any heavy fabrics, like wool or thick cotton, for the same reason. Though clothing made from these fabrics certainly will prevent a sunburn, they’ll also make it more difficult for your body to cool down, increasing your risk of heat stroke.
4. Don’t Pre-Tan
There’s a common myth perpetuated that says if you want to prevent sunburn, you should visit a tanning bed for a few sessions before the summer sun hits. This is patently false. When you visit a tanning booth, you’re still exposing your skin to harmful UVA and UVB rays — you’re only damaging your derma at a slower rate than if you head outdoors. Sun damage still occurs slowly over time, and pre-tanning will still increase your risk for skin cancers like melanoma. It’s a bit like smoking a cigarette before you smoke a cigar — still harmful.
In fact, pre-tanning really only increases your risk for harmful skin damage by exposing you to UVA and UVB rays for longer than you would otherwise be exposed.
Skip the tanning bed altogether unless you have a good reason to visit (e.g. psoriasis treatment). If you must tan, use number one on our list of summer safety tips and wear sunscreen while you’re in the booth to cut down on the associated risks. Tan only occasionally and never for more than a few minutes at a time.
Thinking of tanning outside instead? This isn’t safer. Despite the fact that some people believe getting a tan outdoors is less likely to cause a sunburn, you stand just as much risk of a burn outdoors as in. If your skin is darkening, it’s receiving damage no matter where you’re tanning — full stop.
5. Protect Your Eyes, Too
You’ve slathered on the sunscreen and you’re wearing light, comfortable, sun-blocking clothing, as well as a wide-brimmed hat. What’s missing from this picture? Number five on our list of summer safety tips: sunglasses.
Even if you protect your entire body from the sun, the sun can still damage and otherwise harm your eyes if you don’t protect them, too. There is at least some evidence to show that repeated exposure to UVA and UVB rays can speed age-related vision problems or even cause rare eye cancers, like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
Cancer can occur on both the skin surrounding the eyes and the eye itself, so wide sunglasses that shade the entire eye are always best. Wrap-around glasses that encompass both the eyes and the sensitive skin around the sides of your head take this protection even further.
For little ones, look for sunglasses that maintain vision while shading the eyes. Wrap-around headbands keep cool and comfortable shades close to the head. They may be best for toddlers and infants who are more likely to pull at or otherwise remove a pair of sunglasses.
Staying comfortable, cool, and protected in the sun requires proactive self-care. Start by following these five summer safety tips to prevent sunburns. Should you find yourself burned in spite of your attempts, visit your local pharmacy. Your pharmacist can recommend cooling gels that reduce pain while speeding up the healing process.