Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time for fun vacations in the sun. Most of us love spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty of the environment wherever our travels take us. We must be vigilant, however, about protecting ourselves from our solar friend.
We’ve all heard the most obvious ways to protect our skin: apply sunblock often, and wear hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing. Unfortunately, each of these options involves making a purchase, and in today’s economy, we are looking to save.
Fortunately, there are several effective sun protection options that won’t break the bank. Take advantage of the following FREE tips on how to prevent sun damage including skin cancer and skin aging.
1. Limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plan your vacation activities so that you spend most of your time outdoors during the early morning or early evening. Not only will this help you avoid sun exposure, but it will make you cooler and more comfortable when completing your favorite outdoor activities.
2. Find natural shade. Depending on where you are vacationing, you may or may not have access to shade. At the beach, for example, you may need to purchase or rent an umbrella. But in areas where there is shade, please take advantage of it. Shade not only provides relief from sun damage and heat, but it also adds to your experience of nature. It’s beautiful to look up into a tree that’s glowing with sunlight.
3. Plan to monitor your skin at certain times during the day. Sunblock and other products come with directions that state when you need to reapply the product. Unfortunately, recommendations for reapplication often fail to account for several factors including a person’s individual skin type, the intensity of sun exposure, the kinds of outdoor activities, and even the freshness of the bottle of sunblock. To more effectively monitor your own skin, plan to give yourself a self-check at least every hour.
As you can see, staying safe in the sun doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s easy to save money now and save money on future medical bills by following some simple steps while having fun on vacation.