When it comes to July we anticipate sun, days out and relaxing on the beach, however we all know we haven’t had the amount of sunshine we would expect from summer months, until now!
Over the last few days we have seen a significant increase in the temperature and everyone seems to be out enjoying the sunshine but are you prepared for what the sun has to offer? As part of our Choices for Wellbeing calendar we have put together some tips to help you and your family stay healthy in the sun:
1. Slip on a t-shirt
2. Slap on a hat
3. Slop on some sun cream (minimum SPF15)
4. Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm
5. Be aware and don’t burn
6. Children need extra care to stay safe so use the highest factors on them
7. If you have any moles or freckles you should keep checking them and if there are any changes e.g. if they get bigger, itch or bleed, you should see your GP
8. Avoid looking directly into the sun, or at water that has a bright sunlight reflection
9. Wear good quality sunglasses that have the British Standard mark and offer 100% UV protection
10. Drink plenty of water – the Department of Health recommends that we should drink about 1.2 litres of fluid every day (approx. six large glasses)
What are the risks?
Being out in the sun can be good for you – when the sun is shining we feel happier. It provides both a good source of vitamin D and the opportunity to be physically active, but excessive exposure can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
In 2010, around 100,000 people were diagnosed with skin cancer in the UK.
Skin cancers are caused by damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays where UV rays penetrate deep into the skin damaging cells which are then at risk of becoming cancerous.
Some experts believe that just one episode of blistering sunburn before the age of 20 can double your chance of getting malignant melanoma (skin cancer), which is why it is so important you ensure your children are wearing high factor sun cream and suitable clothes.
What to do if you get sun burnt?
1. Move out of the sun as soon as possible, if you stay in the sun after you have burnt it will make it far worse
2. Check for any blisters as these mean the skin is completely damaged and complications are more likely. If you have blistered and the area is bigger than one entire arm or the whole abdomen, seek medical attention urgently
3. Have a tepid (cool) shower or bath to soothe the pain
4. Apply after sun, aloe or another cooling agent; never apply butter or oil to any burn!
5. Take over the counter painkillers if required
6. Seek medical help if the symptoms continue or get worse
For more information on staying healthy in the sun visit our summer health web page or follow us on twitter, we will be using the hashtag #summerhealth to deliver useful facts and information.