Winter Sun For Me Summer Sun For You will give you the insight to consider to make protecting your skin, regardless of the season.
While we, who live in the northern hemisphere are beginning to think of winter? Those of you who live south of the equator are moving into the hotter part of your year.
Summer means the sun is moving to its brightest, hottest, and most intense. And there is something about the thought of summer that seems warm, soothing, and desirable.
So you may think summer is a good thing because it brings warmth along with it.
The change of the seasons is a good thing. This appreciation of the warmer time of the year. How we are anxious for the summer makes us venerable. We may let our guard down for the dangers of too much sun.
During The Winter, Did You Protect Your Skin?
Too much sun can be hazardous to your health, summer or winter. If proper precautions aren’t taken you may find yourself at risk for sunburn.
Then with your overexposure times getting you ready for skin cancer invasion. Avoiding too much sun exposure is vital. Your skin can be damaged, summer or winter.
If you are like me and moving from summer to winter, you may think that you don’t have to worry about the sun now. It isn’t hot.
This is a trap that allows you to get too much sun in the winter, on a regular basis.
When we say sunburn, we think heat! The summer sun may take longer to get hot. So, it will take longer to sunburn, right?
Yes, this is true, you can take longer to sunburn, but are you getting too much sun period? It is cooler, so you are out in the sun longer. You don’t sweat down as quickly. Nor do you jump in the water as often.
There are long periods of time that you are exposing your skin to the sun. And usually, the times you are out just for fun, you want to make the most of the day. So you forget to seek shade, wear your sun hat, your sunglasses.
You don’t have to get to the sunburn stage to get too much sun.
Simple Plan For Skin Protection From The Sun
You may notice the effects of summer sun or winter sun exposure first on your face.
When exposed for extended periods of time or under direct sunlight during peak hours for that seasons rays. ( Winter sun from 11 AM to 3 PM and Summer sun is 10 AM until 4 PM)
The UVB rays reflect off the surface of your skin and damage your collagen fibres which make up about 90% of your surface.
Once the damage is done, this results in fine lines, with wrinkles, age spots, and even skin cancer.
Sun damage has numerous other adverse side effects. So how do you protect your skin from the intense sun exposure, summer or winter?
Sunscreen is always called on, and how about adding sun blocking clothing? It won’t make your eyes sting and burn if you accidently rub your face and on to your eye.
As long as you have it on your body, you are protected! It doesn’t rub or wear off. Your sunglasses and sun hat are the places to start. Add a long sleeve loose fitting shirt. Yes, these are the basics of your sun blocking clothing wardrobe. It works summer and winter!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FQcRgX1alk (Winter Sun Summer Rain played by Okiem. (A share from a reader who knew I was a piano student. I fell out at practice time, and finally Mom decided it was useless, and it was. I had not learned to practice faithfully to grow my skills)
Adding To Sun Protection
If you can, make a point to plant trees near and around your home for shade. If this isn’t practical, consider awnings on your windows for helping shade your home.
You can also add blinds and curtains that you can control to shield out the sun during peak hours. If you can install the roller shades that roll for top to bottom are excellent for blocking the sun.
Designing shade pergolas where the block the most intense heat is another great way for eliminate sun exposure. This can give you a great place to be out in milder weather.
By creating an area with shading, you can relax in the shade during the summer while still enjoying your view of the outdoors. This gives you privacy and comfort when needed most.
However, it’s important that you do this before your hotter times hit.
Then you can add a “drivers shield” to your vehicle to reduce exposure when you are driving. Remember, this reduces your exposure, not do away with it. You will need your sunglasses, sun hat, and loose-fitting long sleeve shirt to keep you safe.
Wear Sunscreen Both Summer and Winter
Sunscreen remains the most recommended way to protect yourself from the sun. There are great lotions and creams with SPF which will help reduce your exposure to UVB rays.
Make sure the label says “Full Spectrum” to help control early aging.
Some sunscreens offer physical protection to avoid damage by blocking UVA and UVB rays before they even reach your skin.
These types of sunscreen are great for people who spend most of their time indoors during the summer. Sunblock offers your skin a strong resistance against incidental sun overexposure.
However, if you want to be active outside summer or winter, this might not be the best option.
You do have to reapply these types of sunscreens every couple of hours as they wear off easily when exposed to sweat or water. This is something else to keep in mind if you plan on swimming often.
You will see snow skiers with some sunblock on their noses. Lifeguards at the pool. They know the danger of too much sun on their nose
Sunscreen With Chemical Protection
With the chemical form of sunscreen protection, you have another option. Chemical sunscreen contains an ingredient called Octylcrylene which will absorb the UVB rays before they damage your skin.
To work, this chemical sunscreen has to absorb down into your skin so it can work.
This allows it to stay on your skin for a longer period of time without reapplication as needed with physical sunscreens.
However, this type of sunscreen is more easily absorbed into your bloodstream.
So, children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid them
Don’t forget sunscreen sticks. This stick form makes it easier for you to reapply sunscreen even when away from home. They’re also great because they provide UVA and UVB protection.
Sunscreen sticks are usually water-resistant depending on their ingredients. These come with easy application prongs that help you apply the right amount of product, even when under direct sunlight.
However, as in all things, it’s important to remember that sunscreen sticks are easy targets for dirt and germs. So, they should be kept tucked away from beaches or other dirty areas after each use.
Winter and summer have similar overexposure opportunities. You can control these by being aware.
Let Your Clothing Help With Sun Blocking Choices
Sunscreen is the most well-known way to protect your skin from the sun. However, once you consider your clothing and accessories in the light of protecting your skin? You are on the way to planning your skin protection for being outdoors over longer periods of time.
When you are choosing your clothes to wear outdoors in the sun, remember that dark colors absorb sunlight. Your lighter colors reflect it.
The best options will be loose and light-colored clothing such as linen or cotton materials for warmer times. In the winter you can add a T-shirt underneath your shirt if you’re wearing long sleeves for extra warmth and protection from the sun.
Also, it’s a good idea to protect your head with a hat when going outdoors.
In my part of central Texas, you need to wear a hat year-round to protect your face, head, neck ears, and nose from too much sun summer, or winter.
Want t make sure your face is further protected from intense exposure? Then get yourself some sunglasses that offer UV protection. Oversized lens or wraparound styles are recommended to block more sun.
Avoid Peak Sun Hours
The most dangerous times of day when dealing with intense sunlight are typically 10 AM to 4 PM during summer. Winter times are usually 11 AM until 3 PM for those in my part of the world. Pay attention to what the peak hours for where you are.
That’s because this is when the sun’s rays are strongest. Summer or winter, this is true.
Even though there may be cloud coverage or other types of obstruction. During these hours, avoid being outdoors for too long. That means paying attention and moving times for outdoor activities to earlier in the morning or later in the evening where the sun is not as intense.
Don’t Neglect Drinking Enough Water
One of the effects of intense sun, summer, and winter is dehydration.
This means that your body can lose water more quickly than it can replace it. Having your body short of the water it needs puts you at risk for developing heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or other serious conditions that require medical attention if not prevented.
A winter sun time warning for Senior Citizens, over 70% of ER calls find dehydration a partial cause of any complaints, winter or summer. Once they have some fluids in their system, they feel better immediately. Such a little thing. Remember to drink water.
To avoid these problems, always have a bottle of water on hand while outdoors. This will ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day. It’s also important to remember that alcohol consumption can cause dehydration. So, limit how much you drink while outdoors in order to maintain proper hydration levels.
Protecting Your Skin From The Sun
Summer or winter, intense sunlight comes with its dangers. This can be dealt with if you know what precautions to take in order to avoid illness and injury.
Choose the right sunscreen and apply it in the correct way.
Shade your house.
Drink plenty of water.
And, pick the right clothes. If you follow these steps, you can protect yourself from intense sun exposure without having to worry about its negative effects.
Sami’s Take On WinterSun For Me Summer Sun For You
Safely dealing with the sun, winter or summer takes some awareness. We do have to pay attention to the times when we are out in the sun. Like all new habits, will take some getting accustomed to.
However, as we do become more aware, we can save ourselves a great deal of discomfort. Hopefully, you and your family can avoid skin cancer and still enjoy the sun’s blessings.
We need some sun, and very limited amounts are all it takes to keep us healthy. However, our society has been evolving from sun worshippers and tan body lovers.
We are slow, but it will happen. Finding the right combination of being outdoors and protecting our skin will help. It was only a few years ago when everyone was lining up for the ticket to year around suntans, sunbeds. Now they are all be disallowed in so many states.
Seeing the results of these year-round tans on people’s bodies is enough to discourage the practice. Our society is strange, encouraging tans for those who compete on the Body Building Circut. So few sports encourage the participants to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Even if the tan is a spray tan or a man-made one, it is still a tan. We haven’t lost our love for that look of tan skin. Hopefully, as more young people learn about the dangers of allowing too much sun to get to their skin, they will make a different choice.
That is what I am seeing in my own family. One of the granddaughters is wisely protecting her skin while she is young. She doesn’t tan easily and decided it wasn’t worth it for her. Surely there will be more to follow.
How is your family changing their fun in the sun habits?