Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
We all get a little lost sometimes. Somedays you might find yourself wandering around outdoors longer than anticipated. While avoiding the sun can be hard to do, there are things you can do to protect your skin from harmful rays.
Tips for protecting your skin from the sun:
- Use Sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy
- Be extra careful around water and sand. These surfaces reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of getting a sunburn
- Limit the amount of time you’re in the sun between 10AM-4PM
- If Possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Dark clothing with a tight weave blocks more sun than white or loosely woven fabrics
- Use accessories such as hats and sunglasses
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Be mindful of our coral reefs!
Choose mineral based sunscreens and avoid ingredients such as Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, which may have detrimental effects on coral reefs. View sun protection as a total package, it is better to find shade and to cover up than to rely on sunscreen entirely.
Sunscreen ingredients to avoid:
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
These ingredients are harmful to the coral reefs.
What to use instead:
- Mineral based sunscreens
The “Shadow Rule”
If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest, and you should find shade.
Medications
Be even more cautious if you are taking medications that may make you more sensitive to the sun. These include types of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antifungals, blood pressure medications, and chemotherapies.
