How to Get a Safe Summer Look
Time Outdoor activities and outings.
Outdoors play and games are important for child development and should not be eliminated. By far the easiest way to reduce radiation exposure during these activities is to reduce that time spent in outdoors during high U.V. factor times. We can often choose what time of the day outdoor activities occur, avoiding times of the day when the U.V factor is high particularly such as middle of the day.
Be aware that the U.V factor is dependent on many factors, not just the time of the day. You can always check the U.V factor by visiting https://www.sunsmart.com.au/
Remember U.V radiation can not be felt. The U.V. is not directly related to heat and you may be exposed to excessive radiation levels well before you feel warmth or thirst.
Sunscreen isn’t your Superhero, just your trusty sidekick
Australian are wearing more sunscreen that ever but skin cancers and other sun relative diseases continue to increase in number each year. So what is happening here? We are wearing more and more sunscreen but also increasing our sun exposure, while reducing other sun protection practices. Sunscreen is our last line of defence. It doesn’t remove skin cancer risk. It only reduces it. We should only use sunscreen when all of the following are not possible:
Avoid the outdoors during high UV rating times.
Seek shade
Slip on protective clothing
Slap on a hat that protects the entire face and neck
Slide on Sunglasses that meet the Australian or other relevant standards.
What is missing – Solariums and Sun beds.
Ever been at the end of the school year or even a dinner party and realised that someone has left without you even noticing. You were so excited with the activities and your new friend Ernest McFaketan that you didn’t notice them leave. Solariums and Sunbeds are now illegal in Australia and many other countries. They slipped out without most of us noticing. Solariums work on the emission of UV radiation, almost identical to the sun. Therefore we burn almost identical to when we are exposed by the sun. For these reasons they have been banned. They were never a safer option to the sun, only a well marketed alternative. It is ok, who wanted those funny sunglass / eye protection tans anyway.
The Good news – Fakes Tans
most fake tans do not change the chemical structure of your skin or create chemical reactions to change your skin colour. They simply provide a fine film of colour that resembles a tan. Without any long-term identified side-effects this is by far the safest way to get that summer look.
Now Be Careful – Fake Tans again.
Fake tans are not a ‘healthy base layer’ and they do not decrease your risk profile like having a naturally darker skin colours does. They are simply a coloured layer without any sun protection properties. You will still burn according to your natural skin colour so always remember to apply safe sun protection principles as previously mentioned.