Sun Protection Guide

Protecting Yourself from the Sun

By Dr. Mary MacDonald, Naturopath

It’s that time of year again and this year Mother Nature is providing us with an early summer. So, to take advantage of this fleeting time I have put together some important tips to help you and your families get the most out of the season comfortably! Sun protection is now becoming a more contentious topic as different sources tell us that we need the sun to make and use vitamin D but the UV rays coming from the sun can cause skin cancer and premature aging. Like most things in life, sunlight in moderation is healthy but too much of a good thing can leave us in trouble!

Protection is Prevention

Before you Step outside, Here are Some Steps to Make sure you are Protected

Plan When You Go Outside: On the hot and sunny days, try to plan your activities around the sun’s cycle. Go out in the morning and in the evening when the sun’s rays are not at their harshest. The sun peaks in the sky from the hours of 11am – 3pm so try to avoid being out too long at this time. This is especially important with little ones and pets that are less able to effectively cool themselves off when the sun is at its peak.
Wear Clothes: I know you’re hot but the best protection is to shield yourself from the harsh UV rays of the sun. Shirts, hats, shorts and pants shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays – and don’t coat your skin with goop. A long-sleeved surf shirt is a good start. If you do not have thick head hair, be sure to protect your scalp from burning by wearing a hat. A wide brimmed hat will provide extra protection for your face and shoulders. Light coloured clothing is best as it will not soak up as much heat.

Before You Head Out

Here are Some Easy Tips to Follow when you do Venture out to Enjoy the Sun

Find Shade or Make It: Picnic under a tree, read beneath an umbrella, take a canopy to the beach. Keep infants in the shade – they lack tanning pigments (melanin) to protect their skin. It is also important to keep pets in the shade as they are wearing a fur coat and become overheated easily!

Sunglasses are Essential: To protect your eyes from UV radiation, a cause of cataracts and decreased vision.

Stay Hydrated: Our body’s way of cooling down in the sun is to sweat and these fluids need to be replaced. Even better than water alone is an electrolyte mix, but don’t go for the processed mixes.

Sunscreen Selection

Environmental Working Group Suggestions for Choosing Sunscreens:

No Spray Sunscreens: These can pose serious inhalation risks and it is easy to miss a spot when applying
No Super-High SPFs: Can leave your skin exposed to damaging UVA rays. The SPF refers to only protection against UVB radiation, which burns the skin. UVA radiation penetrates deep into the skin – accelerating skin aging and potentially causing skin cancer
No Oxybenzone: Estrogen mimicker in the body, disrupting hormones and may lead to increased risk for endometriosis and low birth weight infants.
No Loose Powder Sunscreens: Can cause damage to the lungs and contain titanium dioxide, which is potentially carcinogenic.
No Retinyl Palmitate: Great when used in a night cream but when used on sun-exposed skin it can actually speed development of skin tumours and lesions.
No Combined Sunscreen/Bug Repellents: Leads to increased skin absorption of repellent ingredients and these 2 products need to be reapplied at different times
No Tanning Oils: Increases risk of sunburn and thus developing skin cancer

Natural Sunburn Remedies:

Aloe Vera: anti-inflammatory, cooling and high in antioxidants
Vitamin E: best if used regularly as it helps to heal oxidative damage to skin cells
Vinegar bath: helps to decrease the stinging sensation and is a great antiseptic
Cool Showers but Not Ice: cool showers will decrease the heat but ice can lead to an ice burn over the sun burn, yikes!
Baking Soda Paste: alkalinizes the skin, is soothing, antiseptic and a gentle exfoliant
Cold Milk & Yogourt: applied directly to the skin is soothing
Manuka Honey: helps the skin to regenerate, is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Tomato paste: helps reduce the sunburn response from UV radiation
Oatmeal: when cooled is soothing to the skin and helps soften the skin