How To Prevent A Severe Sunburn
Ultra violet (UV) rays can be dangerous even on cloudy and hazy day. And remember, that UV rays also reflect off of surfaces such as water, cement, sand, and snow. Many a skier got a severe sunburn while out on a winter's day. The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most dangerous time for UV exposure in the continental United States. UV rays are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America. If you live outside the North American continent you should be aware of the time of the year when the UV rays are highest in your area. Steps to Take to Prevent A Severe Sunburn
Since the sun's UV rays can damage our skin in as little as 15 minutes be sure to put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don't forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. Clothing It is a good idea to wear loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants that are made from tightly woven fabric. These offer the best protection from the sun's UV rays. A wet T-shirt may make us feel cooler but it offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Sometimes it is impossible or impractical to wear type of clothing isn't practical but we should at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Don't get fooled into thinking that a T-shirt is all the protection you need. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well. Hats Hats that give the most protection have a brim that goes all the way around. This type of hat not only shades your face but your ears, and the back of your neck as well helping us avoid getting a severe sunburn. Straw hats are the most common summer hats but the ones with holes let the sunlight through. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, is the best to protect your skin from UV rays. A darker hat may offer more UV protection. Baseball caps are worn by many but these types of hats only protect the face. Remember, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck. Do this by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade. Sunglasses Most of us don't realize that our eyes suffer from exposure to UV rays. We need to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts. Sunglasses also protects the tender skin around our eyes from sun exposure. Look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side. By staying in the shade we can reduce the chances of getting a severe sunburn and damaging our skin. Sitting under an umbrella, tree or other shelter is a good idea during the hottest part of the day. Even when we sit in the shade it is a good idea to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing.
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The best way to prevent getting a severe sunburn is to be aware of the steps necessary to protect yourself. It is important to remember that we need protection from the sun year around, not just during the summer.
