June is that time of year where the temperature is creeping up, the sun’s coming out and everyone is rushing to get outside and enjoy the weather. While I think it’s awesome to spend time outside in the sun, it is important to do it safely to avoid long term and short term health risks.
Here are some of the ways that you can protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun
Check the UV scale
The UV Index is a scale that gives the intensity of the sun’s rays at any given moment. The way the UV scale works is the higher the UV index, the more harmful the sun’s rays are.
You can determine the UV index by going onto your weather app and look for where it says UV Index. Doing this will help you determine just how dangerous the sun is at any given moment.
Wear sunscreen
This one is a given but often overlooked. I can be the first one to say I hate wearing sunscreen, it takes so long to apply and leaves you feeling shiny and oily. But, in this case, the pros outweigh the cons as sunscreen helps to protect against the sun’s most harmful rays.
Apply your sunscreen about 15 minutes before going out into the sun and get ready to enjoy that sunshine! But, don’t forget, to reapply.
Reapplying sunscreen is another commonly overlooked step. Generally, sunscreen needs to be reapplied after 90 minutes but check the back of your sunscreen to see how often you’ll need to reapply.
Spend time in the shade
If I’m looking to go out and spend time in the sun, I also like to spend a little time in the shade. Personally, what I like to do is alternate between time in the sun and time in the shade. This way my body gets a break and cools down, but I’m still outside enjoying the temperature and the beautiful weather.
Drink lot’s of water
While you’re outside in the heat, you’ll be sweating more than you usually would. This is because your body is trying to cool itself down.
Even though this is your body’s natural response to keep yourself cool, you’ll still be losing a lot of essential electrolytes in the process. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate yourself and replenish all those electrolytes you lost.
These tips will help you to better enjoy the beautiful sunshine while also being safer all summer long. And remember, even when applying these tips, you’ll still want to take caution when being out in the sun and avoid strenuous sun exposure.