Summertime is a time for fun in the sun. People go out to the beach, fishing, or even on road trips. However, this leaves their skin exposed to the sun. Leave it for too long, and you end up with problems.
Sunburn is one of the most common skin problems in the United States, but most people brush it off. However, you should know a few things about sunburn before going out and enjoying the sun.
Sunburn
Sunburn happens when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. These UV rays damage the DNA in your skin cells. This damage can lead to premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.
There are various degrees of sunburn, with first-degree being the mildest and third-degree being the most severe.
First-degree sunburns are usually only read and don’t blister. Second-degree sunburns will appear red and might have small blisters. Finally, third-degree burns will be red and have large blisters that might cover a large area of your body.
You can get sunburn at any time of the year, but you’re more likely to get it during the summer when the weather is hot and sunny.
There are various ways you can prevent sunburn, especially during the summer. Here’s how you can do that.
Tint Your Car
If you’re planning a road trip this summer, you should consider tinting your car windows. It will help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
You can get your car windows tinted at most car dealerships. However, if you want better and specialized kinds of tint, it’s better to visit a car window tinting shop. These shops offer a variety of tints that can help protect your skin from the sun. They even offer various colors if you need something that’ll make your car stand out.
If you have a sunroof, get that tinted as well. That could be the main reason why you might get a sunburn this summer.
Wear Protective Clothing
Another way to prevent sunburn is by wearing protective clothing. This includes long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses.
The best fabric for protecting your skin from the sun is tightly woven. It’s a fabric that doesn’t allow UV rays to pass through as quickly as other fabrics.
You should also look for clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. The higher the UPF rating, the better the protection. UPF 50+ is the highest rating you can get.
This type of clothing is available in most sporting goods stores and online.
Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one way to prevent sunburn. It helps protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
When buying sunscreen, look for one with an SPF of 30 or higher. It measures how well the sunscreen will protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays. The higher the SPF, the better the protection.
You should also look for a sunscreen with a “broad-spectrum,” because it will protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays are the type of UV rays that cause premature aging of the skin. They can also pass through glass. UVB rays are the type of UV rays that cause sunburn.
You should apply sunscreen to all exposed skin. This includes your face, neck, ears, and hands. You should also use it on any exposed areas of your body that might not be covered by clothing.
Make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours or more if you’re swimming or sweating.
Use Coconut Oil
If you’re not planning to swim and don’t like sunscreen, a more natural way is to use coconut oil. It will help protect your skin from the sun as it has an SPF of about 6. It’s not as effective as sunscreen, but it can save you from moderate sunburn.
Coconut oil can also help to moisturize your skin and make it soft. It’s because it’s made up of saturated fats. Saturated fats also have antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is great for your skin.
Stay in the Shade
Finally, another way to prevent sunburn is by staying in the shade as much as possible. This includes staying in the house or under a tree or umbrella when you’re outside.
The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try to stay out of the sun during these hours. If you must be in the sun during these hours, wear sunscreen and protective clothing.
These are some of the ways you can prevent sunburn this summer. By following these tips, you can enjoy the summer without having to worry about getting a sunburn.
