How to Protect Yourself From the Sun

Regardless of the season or the location, the sun is something to keep in mind. It is always there during the daylight hours even when the sky is overcast. It is important that everyone is aware of the sun’s potentially damaging effects. This helps to ensure that you take the sun protection steps necessary to not only protect your skin, but your health as a whole.
Sunburns are probably the most common. Unfortunately, you often do not know that you are being burned as it happens because it typically takes up to five hours for the burn to become visibly noticeable and by that time, the damage is done.
When you have a sunburn, the affected area is usually bright pink or red in color. It is common for some swelling to be present and for the area to be tender or painful. Within a few days, blisters are common. It is important to allow the blisters to go away on their own. Popping or peeling them puts you at risk for infection. In some cases, people can experience flu-like symptoms, including nausea, chills, fever or headache; in case of a fever, it is important to consult a medical professional right away.
Exposure to the sun for prolonged periods of time can be a risk for dehydration. This can be serious and something that could be easily prevented. To help prevent sun-related dehydration, one could make sure that they are getting enough water; which can be achieved by drinking water as soon as one wakes up and not wait until they are out in the sun and continuing the process once one is out in the sun.
When you think about the potentially damaging effects of the sun, you might not think about your eyes, but they are just as vulnerable as the rest of your body. The retina, which is a structure that is located in the back of your eyes, can become burned from the sun. This is precisely why you are told to never look directly at an eclipse. Once the damage happens, you might experience an array of visual issues, such as unclear vision and an increased risk of developing cataracts.
If you have ever had a heat rash, it is surely something that you have never forgotten. It is due to the sweat ducts trapping sweat below the skin. It is very common when the weather is humid and hot. It usually has the appearance of small blisters or tiny clusters of red bumps that look similar to a pimple. This rash most commonly occurs in the elbow creases, on the upper chest, in the folds of the skin, on the neck or in the groin area.
Heat rash can be incredibly itchy and uncomfortable. To help make it go away, you have to be very mindful about keeping your skin dry and avoiding sun exposure to the affected areas. There are powders that your doctor might be able to recommend. However, due to not wanting to apply moisture to the affected area, you should avoid using creams or ointments.
Heat exhaustion is another very serious issues that can happen when you are out in the sun. It is described as your body responding to an excessive loss of salt and water due to sweating excessively. This condition can be life-threatening, especially if it progresses to the much more serious heat stroke. When you have heat exhaustion, the following symptoms are possible: headache, dizziness, irritability, heavy sweating, nausea, weakness, thirst, reduced urine output and increased body temperature. If this is allowed to progress to heatstroke, the body can rapidly get to a life-threatening temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The other symptoms that can accompany this include confusion, slurred speech, profuse sweating, seizures and altered mental status. This is a medical emergency.
When it comes to sun damage, skin cancer is one of the most serious consequences and the one you want to be very careful to avoid. There are three primary types of skin cancer that might result from sun exposure and these include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The latter is considered to be the most dangerous.
It usually takes years of frequent sun exposure to develop cancer. However, some people can develop it without a history of excessive exposure, so it is important for everyone to ensure adequate protection whenever they are outdoors. Now that you know about the damage that it can do, it is time to make sure that you are adequately protected every time you step outside. Having a kit that contains what you need for sun protection is the best idea. There are a number of options on the market, but one excellent choice that covers all of your basis is the Surfs Up ReadyPack. This handy tote of products includes tangerine lip balm, 75 percent organic-blend board wax and natural sunscreen that is broad-spectrum and SPF 30+. Just toss in a towel and a pair of sunglasses and you are ready for a day on the beach. Enjoy the adrenaline rush you get when you are catching the biggest waves, or simply go for a quick swim and relax on the beach with a great book. No matter which option you choose, this kit has you covered in the sun protection department.





Now that you know what the potential damage is that the sun might cause, it is time to ensure that you have a plan in place to protect yourself. It is not too hard and you can see above that with a little time and diligence, you will be able to make sure that the sun is not a factor when it comes to your well-being.

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