5 Sun Safety Tips
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Find out everything there is to know about keeping your skin safe from the sun in more ways than one.
1. Wear Sunblock
Anytime you go out in the sun you should apply sunblock from head to toe. This way, your skin will be protected from UVA and UVB rays. Remember to limit your time in the sun and reapply your sunblock as recommended on the bottle.
2. Avoid Wearing Perfume in the Sun
Certain ingredients, including oils made from musk, sandalwood, bergamot, citrus, and vanilla, can be chemically changed by the sun, triggering an allergic rash-and increasing the chance of hyperpigmentation (age spots). Even scents in soaps and shaving cream can be a problem.
3. Limit Sun Exposure
The summer season is short here in Canada so it’s no wonder everyone wants to enjoy the great outdoors when the harsh winter comes to an end. If sunlight brightens your mood, go ahead and enjoy it – just do it carefully. Spend no more than 30 to 60 minutes in the sun per day. That way you can get a healthy dose of Vitamin D without causing potentially serious damage.
4. After Sun Exposure
After you’ve been out in the sun, apply some vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant and may help to prevent age spots by neutralizing skin-damaging free-radical molecules.
5. Avoid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Prescription arthritis drugs and common painkillers, such as ibuprofen or ketoprofen, may make the skin more vulnerable to burning, even in a short time. To avoid trouble, stay away from self-prescribing over-the-counter painkillers; ask your doctor about alternatives with less potential for causing photosensitivity.
