Sunshine improves your mental health dramatically, but it can have devastating physical effects. Make sure that you are properly protected so you can enjoy the sun’s benefits safely.
The SPF of Trees
Who needs sunscreen when there are trees? Trees offer great SPF even in their shade, you’ll pick up a little color, but more healthily and slowly. Research shows that an oak tree provides an SPF of 10-20; an elm or a sycamore offers SPF30; and a dense pine forest gives SPF100.
SMART SUNNING
When shopping, you need to be aware that the actual SPF rating of your sun cream is likely to be between one-half and one-third of the SPF stated on the packaging,
Never sunbathe—you’ll pick up some color just by walking around, even from lying in the shade.
Avoid sun exposure during the peak hours: between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Be sunsmart even on cloudy days: UV rays can penetrate clouds, and the ageing UVA rays in sunlight can even go through glass.
The sun’s rays are more intense in tropical and semi-tropical locations, because exposure becomes more direct the closer you get to the equator. Intensity is also increased in higher elevations where the atmosphere is thinner. Extra protection for eyes and lips is necessary in both cases.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outdoors, and let it dry or bond with the skin before dressing. Apply again as soon as you are in direct sunlight: you can burn just while looking for a sun longer or a place to have a picnic.
Protect yourself while swimming, and reapply afterwards.
You can cut down on overall exposure received by spending intermittent periods of time in the shade, but be aware that you need to wear sun protection there, too.
Wear a hat with a 10 cm brim and sunglasses, even when walking short distances. Sunglasses should also contain UV-protective lenses.
Cover up. Tightly-woven clothing offers the better protection. Loose, tight-weave clothing is best of all.
Infants under 12 months old should be shielded from any sun exposure.
Use an SPF25 or above on children of all ages, and dress them in protective clothing, making sure the utra-vulnerable back of the neck is well protected. The skin cancer foundation has concluded that if a child is protected from the sun by a high SPF (25-50) at six months, continuing through adolescence, the chances of sun damage or developing skin cancer are greatly reduced.
The SPF of Trees
Who needs sunscreen when there are trees? Trees offer great SPF even in their shade, you’ll pick up a little color, but more healthily and slowly. Research shows that an oak tree provides an SPF of 10-20; an elm or a sycamore offers SPF30; and a dense pine forest gives SPF100.
SMART SUNNING
When shopping, you need to be aware that the actual SPF rating of your sun cream is likely to be between one-half and one-third of the SPF stated on the packaging,
Never sunbathe—you’ll pick up some color just by walking around, even from lying in the shade.
Avoid sun exposure during the peak hours: between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Be sunsmart even on cloudy days: UV rays can penetrate clouds, and the ageing UVA rays in sunlight can even go through glass.
The sun’s rays are more intense in tropical and semi-tropical locations, because exposure becomes more direct the closer you get to the equator. Intensity is also increased in higher elevations where the atmosphere is thinner. Extra protection for eyes and lips is necessary in both cases.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outdoors, and let it dry or bond with the skin before dressing. Apply again as soon as you are in direct sunlight: you can burn just while looking for a sun longer or a place to have a picnic.
Protect yourself while swimming, and reapply afterwards.
You can cut down on overall exposure received by spending intermittent periods of time in the shade, but be aware that you need to wear sun protection there, too.
Wear a hat with a 10 cm brim and sunglasses, even when walking short distances. Sunglasses should also contain UV-protective lenses.
Cover up. Tightly-woven clothing offers the better protection. Loose, tight-weave clothing is best of all.
Infants under 12 months old should be shielded from any sun exposure.
Use an SPF25 or above on children of all ages, and dress them in protective clothing, making sure the utra-vulnerable back of the neck is well protected. The skin cancer foundation has concluded that if a child is protected from the sun by a high SPF (25-50) at six months, continuing through adolescence, the chances of sun damage or developing skin cancer are greatly reduced.
