The Importance of Sun Protection

Everyone
knows that it is important to protect yourself from the sun, especially
with global warming on the rise. However, there is a long way to go
before the general population uses sun protection on a regular basis in
their day to day lives. Whilst it is unrealistic to expect people not to
tan, there are a number of ways in which to protect yourself from the
sun’s harmful UV rays. Ultraviolet light can be extremely harmful to
human skin, and if it were not for the Earth’s atmosphere protecting us
from approximately 97% of the sun’s heat most living organisms would be
in huge trouble. From sun scream to sun glasses, here are a few
important tips to help you form a daily sun protection regime.

Sun Cream

One of the most effective ways of protecting yourself from the sun is by
applying sun cream on a daily basis if you know that you are going to be
outside. The sun can burn you even on a cloudy day, so it is especially
important that young children with delicate skin are properly looked
after. Sun cream is ranked by factors, and the higher the factor the
more protection you get. For children, it is best to apply sun cream of
factor 30 upwards. If you are going to the beach or a river, you may
also want to invest in some waterproof cream. Sun protection for
children is incredibly important as prolonged exposure to the sun can
result in severe forms of skin cancer and other such complications.

Cover Up

Of course, the best way to protect yourself from the sun is to cover up.
Wearing loose fitting linen or cotton clothes will help keep you cool,
and a sun hat will help shade your head. Prolonged exposure to the sun
can start premature aging in your skin, so to combat the stresses of
daily life outdoors invest in a decent face moisturiser to apply every
night. Avoid the use of sun beds and instead enjoy the real thing. There
are countless horror stories of people receiving severe sun burn from
sun beds, and children under 16 should never be permitted to use one.
Wear a decent pair of sun glasses which have recognised UV protection.
Aside from the practical benefits of helping you to see properly, good
sun glasses will protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Having said all this, it is good for you to enjoy the sunshine outdoors
so don’t be tempted to stay inside all the time – it is up to you to
protect yourself properly.