Tag Archives: sunburn

Summer Sun Safety

The summertime is quickly approaching. Most kids like to spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, so it’s always best to make sure that they are getting the proper sun burn protection for their skin. Taking the right precautions from over exposure to the sun can reduce you or a child’s chance from developing skin damage. It’s normal for us to enjoy outdoor activities, but it’s also important that we stay safe.

When trying to avoid the sun, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

  • Seek shade. Being under shade will not only keep you cool throughout the day, but help to prevent any form of excessive sun exposure.
  • Avoid UV/tanning beds.
  • Try to avoid being in the sun rays between 10am-4pm. The sun’s rays are the strongest during this period time. This will keep the sun from burning and harming your skin.Sun over exposure prevention
  • Cover up with clothes, UV sunglasses, and sunscreen. Wearing tightly woven clothes, especially if it is outdoor gear.  This is helpful because it protects you from the harsh UV rays. The darker your clothes are, the better. By simply applying one ounce of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, 30 minutes prior to going outside, will save you in the long run. Using this type of sunscreen on babies who are six months or younger is not recommended; keep newborn babies out of the sun.
  • Be sure to examine your body every month and see your physician every year to have a skin exam done.

Have you ever experienced a tan or sunburn based on the effects of the sun? The sun can either increase our health or damage it. It’s okay to be exposed to some sun exposure because it is the top source of Vitamin D. This can be beneficial because it helps our bodies absorb calcium for stronger bones. However, receiving too much sunlight on your skin can cause skin cancer, skin damage, and eye damage.

Summer Sun Safety

A Millennium Medical Group Clinics, we care about your health. We’ve been treating our patients in our medical clinics for over 40 years. We make sure that our patients are cared for quickly and completely. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about sun protection or see a physician for a skin examination, please feel free to call or contact us today. Read the second part in this three part series addressing Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke Warnings. We hope that you use our Summer Sun Safety tips throughout this summer and stay well!

Say No to Sunburn!

As the weather begins to warm up many of us cannot wait to get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine. Many of us have experienced sunburn from being outside in the sun for too long and not properly protecting our skin. Being in the sun can cause damage to your skin if preventive measure are not taken, which can eventually lead to skin cancer or wrinkles.

There are many ways to go about preventing sunburn and protecting your skin from the damaging UV exposure. The first step in protecting yourself from sunburn is to wear proper clothing. Proper clothing includes a had with a wide brim that will shade your ears, scalp, neck, and eyes. Sunglasses with UV protection will also help protect your eyes from sun damage, or cataracts. Wearing loose clothing that covers your arms and legs will help reduce your skins exposure to the suns UV rays.

For those with children, it is very important to protect them from sunburn, as most of their exposure to the sun occurs under 18 years of age. Keeping children out of the sun from 10- 4pm if possible is recommended, as the sun is at its prime. Once again as with adults, proper clothing and sunglasses should be worn to prevent sunburn in young children.

For both children and adults, it is a given that we will not completely stay out of the sun. 480025_sofia_07While in the sun you will also want to protect your skin with a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. It is extremely important in children to use sunscreen because their skin is still very sensitive. When you are near water or at higher elevations it is recommended that you use a sunscreen with a higher level of SPF.

Too much exposure to the sun without proper protection can cause more than just a bad sunburn. It can lead to damaging skin cells, or even the formation of cancerous skin cells. If you notice that after getting in from the sun that you have blistering, feel dizzy or nauseous, or have a fever or chills, chances are that you are experiencing sun poisoning. To help reduce the symptoms of sun poisoning caused from sunburn or too much sun exposure, use a cooling aloe Vera gel, drink a lot of water to rehydrate your body. If you begin to feel faint, experience swelling in your face, or notice blisters forming in large areas contact a medical professional immediately.