Summer is one of the most exciting times of the year. Cold weather won’t hold you back from happy moods and tons of fun, but the extra sunshine may harm your health. Follow these tips to stay safe in the sun this summer without compromising your big plans.
1. Start Your Day With Lotion
Most people will recommend wearing sunscreen every day during the summer, but it leaves a greasy sheen over your face. You can skip the oily effect by applying lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF). Don’t worry about looking for a 100 SPF label. You only need a product with an SPF of 15 to protect against 93% of ultraviolet (UV) rays that would otherwise burn your skin.
2. Find Some Stylish Sunglasses
Squinting against the sun is annoying and may cause you to reach for your sunglasses. Wearing a stylish pair more often would be even better for your health. Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause a temporary case of photokeratitis, which is a sunburn on your eyes. Multiple cases could trigger cataracts or macular degeneration, so get yourself some new sunglasses this year,
3. Get More Electrolytes
Summer heat makes you sweat more often, causing dehydration nearly every day. Sometimes it’s challenging to drink enough water if your routine keeps you busy. Take care of your body by getting more electrolytes in drinks or routine IV treatments. Electrolytes typically come from a person’s water and food intake, so they regulate the body’s daily functions like:
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Balancing your blood’s pH levels
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Delivering fluid to your cells
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Circulating nerve signals throughout your body
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Causing essential muscle contractions, like your heartbeat
These systems start to fail if your body doesn’t have enough electrolytes. Make them part of your summer goals to stay happy and healthy while you’re enjoying the warm weather.
4. Skip the Tanning Bed
You might want to stop by a tanning bed to skip the damage that hours in the sun can cause to your skin. Think twice before scheduling an appointment. Tanning beds use the same UV light as the sun, so you’re still risking burns and skin cancer by laying down with your trusty pair of goggles. Opt for a safer tan by picking a self-tanning product that doesn’t require UV light for results.
5. Eat More Water-Based Veggies
Life’s responsibilities often keep people away from nearby restrooms. You may not even have time for breaks once every hour or two, so eat more water-based veggies. You’ll stay hydrated by eating foods like cucumbers, zucchini and lettuce without drinking so much water that you need to run to the bathroom frequently.
6. Avoid the Sun’s Hottest Hours
Everyone knows that it’s more pleasant outside in the mornings and evenings during the summer. Whenever possible, try only going out during those periods. You’ll avoid the hottest time of the day — typically between 3-4:30 p.m. — and never have to worry about heat-related exhaustion, fainting or heat strokes.
7. Match Hats With Your Outfits
There are so many styles of hats to match your favorite summer outfits. See which hats work with your personality and sense of style. You’ll protect your face from harmful UV rays while gaining a new Instagram-worthy accessory.
If you don’t want to wear one every day, at least try to wear one while you’re outdoors. A protective baseball cap or straw hat will make all the difference when you’re mowing your lawn or walking around a park.
8. Search for Vitamin D Elsewhere
You’ve likely heard someone say that they enjoy being out in the sunshine because they know they’re getting enough vitamin D. While everyone needs vitamin D to maintain healthy bones, the sun isn’t the only place you can find it. You can also get it from healthy foods in your daily diet, like:
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Salmon
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Egg yolks
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Canned tuna
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Orange juice
You’ll never have to live through another sunburn again just to get the nutrients your body needs. Maintain your skin health and bone strength by adding a few of these foods to your diet.
9. Reapply Your Sunscreen
Before leaving for a day on the beach or a party in your backyard, you might put sunscreen on your face, arms and legs. That’s an excellent way to stay safe in the sun this summer, but don’t forget to reapply. Sunscreen wears off as you sweat and if you dive into any water. Reapply it every two to three hours to maintain the protective SPF layer on your skin.
10. Stay in the Shade
Always try to stay in the shade if you have a choice. You could choose to walk in a park that has a path covered by trees. Maybe your family could move your backyard picnic table to a shady spot before eating dinner outside. Little efforts to stay out of the sun make a significant difference in keeping you healthy.
Stay Safe This Summer
There are so many tips to stay safe in the sun this summer, but you and your loved ones can start with these. Wearing sunscreen, getting more electrolytes and wearing hats are just a few ways to have tons of fun without risking any sun damage.
