Natural Sunscreen – Not Always from a Bottle

Of the top 10 products listed—including Badger (SPF 30), Lavera Sun Screen Neutral (SPF 40), and UV Natural Adult New Formula 2007 (SPF 30)—all had safety ratings in the “low hazard” category, rating only a 1 on a 1-10 scale for dangerous … In actuality, there are many options for sun protection that respect both the body and the earth: First, use common sense. Try to stay out of the sun during peak sun hours, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when sunburn and sun damage is …

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Natural Sunscreen – Not Always from a Bottle | Green Living Ideas

Protecting children from sunburn is vitally important

Living in coastal areas, where the so many of us of enjoy boating, fishing and going to beach, it’s especially important that we protect our skin.

McDonald kids playing in the water 300x225 Protecting children from sunburn is vitally important that will protect you from both UVA and UVB light rays.  UVA rays are longer rays of light that penetrate the skin deeper and probably are more likely to initiatie the cancer. UVB rays are shorter rays, McDonald says, but still cause considerable damage.

It’s best to avoid the sun between 10 and 3 because the sun’s rays are most intense during these times. However, if you are going to be out, sunscreen should be applied every hour and a half to two hours. McDonald also recommends a wide-brimmed visor or hat and other protective clothing if possible.

Good sun protection is priceless

sun protection on the beach 300x199 Good sun protection is pricelessToo much sun bathing without proper protection will cause sunburn. Too much sunburn leads to skin damage and premature aging of the skin. Eventually this will lead in turn to serious skin diseases, like skin cancer. But is doesn’t have to be like that. A few simple precautions can save you from the harmful influence of the sun.

Some simple advice to protect yourself from the sun

  • stay out of the sun between 10 am to 4 pm (10 h tot 16 h)
  • wear protective clothing like long-sleeved garments and wide-brimmed hats
  • use an umbrella
  • apply sunscreen half an hour before you go out
  • wear sunglasses to protect your eyes

My skin is used to the sun

Even if you have a darker skin you should avoid long exposure to the sun around noon. During these hours the sun is at its strongest. Besides sunburn it can give you headaches, it can cause dehydration and eye damage.Look for some shadow if you can.
Take man in their natural state as an example: even if their skin is used to the sun, they will never expose themselves to heavy sunshine if they don’t need to. Ever wondered why desert people always wear clothes from top to toe?

Sun bathing and skin type

sun tanning girls 150x150 Sun bathing and skin typeIt’s a sunny day. You and your friend go to the beach. You plan to stay all day. So you need protection from the harmful UV-rays. You apply sunscreen, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 12. Because you care about your skin and you want to prevent sunburn, you both re-apply it again every 2 hours. That evening, in the bathroom, you see yourself in the mirror: reddish, itchy skin, slightly painful when touching it… your friend has a nice tan. How can that be?

Well, the answer is simple. Although you applied the same sunscreen and you were sun bathing on the same beach, the outcome is different. And that is because you don’t have the same skin type. If your friend has type 2 or more he will be well protected. Is your skin type 1, then you should have reapplied your sunscreen every hour, instead of every 2 hours. Use the sun time calculator to see for yourself.

How long to get sunburn

avoid sunburn with sunscreen 150x150 How long to get sunburnYesterday the above title popped up in my stats and I immediately realised that this is the most important question one can ask with regard to tanning and exposure to UV-rays. Mostly you’ll have to do with the small print on the sunscreen bottle, telling you that you’d apply it frequently. The more, the better! Yes, for their wallet, not for yours. And does it really protect you in the end? Maybe, but you’ll end up like wearing 7 raincoats on top of each other to protect you against the rain. Silly, isn’t it?

My advice: buy 1 good raincoat. One that fits comfortably, that protects well and lets your skin breathe. The same applies to sunscreen. Buy good sunscreen and use it the right way. That’s the best way to protect you. Calculate your safe sun tanning time here, by choosing your skin type, the UV-index and the SPF (sun protection factor) of your sunscreen. That’s all. That’s what will get you going without catching a sunburn.

And… oh yeah, tell it to your friends, they’ll love you for giving such good advice.

Top Five Sun Safety Tips | Smart Traveller

sunscreen at the beach 150x150 Top Five Sun Safety Tips | Smart Traveller… Not taking sun safety precautions can lead to painful sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration and also increase our chances of getting skin cancer. However, these health problems can be easily avoided if you follow sun safety advice, so here are our top five tips for staying safe in the sun.

1. Don’t spend all your time on the beach. It may be tempting to head straight for the beach on the first day of your holiday, but if you do, don’t spend too long there. Experts believe that you do less damage to your skin if you gradually increase the amount of time that you spend in the sun than you do if you suddenly spend hours sunbathing. It’s also important to stay out of the sun between 11 a.m and 3 p.m, as the sun’s rays are strongest at this time of day. You should also make sure that you take regular breaks by leaving the beach and moving into the shade.

2. Dress appropriately. When you’re out and about in the sun, make sure that you cover up, and wear a hat and sunglasses. If you are spending time at the beach, take some suitablebeachwear with you, so that you can wear it over your swimwear when you aren’t in the water.

3. Apply sun cream regularly. It’s important to choose the right sun screen and use it correctly. You need protection from two types of ultraviolet radiation waves emitted by the sun – UVB rays and UVA rays. UVB rays cause skin to burn, and to prevent this, look for a sun screen cream with a Sun Protection Factor (or SPF) of 15 or above. UVA rays cause deeper damage and can age skin prematurely – to protect yourself from the effects of UVA rays, use sun screen which has a star rating of four or five stars.

Apply your sun cream at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun and reapply it every two or three hours. Use a water resistant sun cream and make sure that you reapply it after you have been swimming.

4. Drink plenty. Dehydration can have serious consequences, so when the weather is warm, make sure that you drink plenty of water. Try to avoid drinking alcohol in hot weather as this will dehydrate you.

5. Don’t just think about the sun when you are on the beach. Like sand, snow and water reflect UV rays, so even if you aren’t spending your holiday lying on a beach, you will need to think about sun safety. You can also get sunburnt when the weather is cloudy, so don’t get caught out.

How long can you safely stay in the sun?

This site provides you with a calculator that collects a few simple data, such as your skin type, the UV-index and the sun protection factor (SPF) of your sunscreen. It then calculates your safe tanning time. This is the time you can safely stay in the sun on a given day with that particular sunscreen.

Remember that the time returned to you by the UV-calculator is not an exact value, but always approximative. The most uncertain factor being your skin type, next to the UV-index which reflects a predicted value, rather than an exact value – unless you have a UV-index meter in your hand.

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