Top ten tips for keeping safe in the sun
As many of us jet off on holiday to Europe this summer it’s more important than ever to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, which are becoming stronger and stronger ever year. Whilst the sun improves our Vitamin D generating ability, which makes us happy… too much of it can be very harmful to our bodies in the short and long term. Always treat the sun with respe
We here at Vintage are no strangers to the summer months in Europes finest holiday destinations, so we have taken it upon ourselves to list our top 10 tips for keeping safe in the sun. Whilst many of these may seem blindingly obvious to most, it’s incredible how many people ignore them.
Tan gradually – If you want a lasting tan then you have to introduce your skin to the sun slowly. Start with a high factor sun cream for the first few days and then when you feel it’s the right time, move to a lower factor but never go below SPF15 if you can help it. If you burn you peel and that is really no good for your tan or more importantly for your skin! Use waterproof cream if you don’t want the faff of constant application. Also, aaccording to Cancer Research UK, sunburn can double your risk of skin cancer.
When it’s cloudy – Even when the clouds are out you can burn as the sun’s harmful UV rays still get through. Always apply cream if you are heading outside on a summer’s day.
Ears, scalp and lips – These three areas are very easy to burn and extremely painful when they do. Use sun block on your lips and ears and a high factor SPF cream on your scalp – or better still, wear a hat!
If you don’t burn don’t ignore sun cream – If you have olive skin you will no doubt tan far more easily than someone with pale or pink skin, but don’t take that as an excuse to yourself to miss out on applying cream. Everyone is susceptible to dangerous rays from the sun and you don’t want to end up looking like a prune anyway!
Avoid midday sun – The sun is at its most dangerous when it gets to midday. Try and avoid sitting out in the open at these times and opt for some shade at least so as you get added protection. If you’re heading to the beach take a large brolley with you for protection. Ideally you’ll opt for sun in the early mornings or late afternoons. 11am – 3pm are the danger periods.
Keep drinking water – The sun sucks the moisture out of your skin and therefore it’s incredibly important to keep hydrated, not only for the good of your skin, but to avoid the effects of heat stroke – a very nasty condition! If you do start to feel dizzy and light headed in the sun, get inside fast, rest and drink lots and lots of water.
Invest in a quality pair of sun glasses – Cheap sunglasses are in fact very bad for your eyes as they don’t protect you from harmful sun rays. Ensure that they offer 100% UP protection and always ask the outlet you are buying from to confirm this.
Listen to your body – Your body will normally tell you once it’s had enough sun. Listen to it very carefully and never ignore it as if you do it will no doubt be burning you and gearing for heatstroke.
Apply sun cream and keep applying – According to a number of sources, sun cream needs to be reapplied every 2 hours, but to be safe we’d suggest at least every hour, especially if you’ve been for a dip and then come out the water and rubbed it off with your towel.
Cover up – Avoid the temptation to tan all over (including the bits that never normally see the light of day). Invest in some stylish lightweight pieces (shorts, tees and pashminas) and give your skin a break from the sun every few hours.
A quality after sun – If you’re going to invest in some after sun (which we advise you do), make sure you choose a good one. We’ve discovered the best ones to be the ones containing essential oils, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera (for soothing). A good after sun will preserve that tan that seems to disappear as soon as you set foot back in England! Top Tip – Once you’ve found some creams, see if there are any online reviews before you commit