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Short guide for summer
How to stay safe in the sun
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Benefits of sun bath |
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About UV rays - ultraviolet rays
Advices to stay safe in the sun
SPF sun protection factor |
About sun bath
How to take a sun bath Packing for seaside |
How to stay safe in the sun
Ultraviolet rays
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Excessive sun exposure can cause many problems to your health. To avoid sunburns, "farmer's tan", skin damage, skin cancer, cataracts, heat stroke, protect yourself and obey some essential advices given by specialists.
What does 'UV' mean? Part of the light from the sun consists of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause burning, tanning and other skin damage.
If UV means ultraviolet, what is UV-A and UV-B?
• Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
• UVA rays cause skin ageing and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. Because UVA rays pass straight through the ozone layer, they make up the majority of our sun exposure.
• Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but enough of these rays pass through to cause serious damage including sun burn, cataracts and immune system damage. They also contribute to skin cancer. Most melanoma is thought to be caused by severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20.
• UVC rays are the most dangerous, but these rays are (currently) blocked by the ozone layer and don't reach the earth. So it's our job to protect our family from exposure to UVA and UVB, the rays that cause skin damage. All UV rays are stronger during summer and when the sun is highest in the sky.
What to do to stay safe in the sun
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1. Avoid staying in sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. During this time it's the maximum sun radiation.
2. Use a sun protection cream with SPF (sun protection factor) number at least 30. SPF means how long you can stay in the sun without burning. SPF numbers start at 2 and have just recently reached 70.
To figure out how long you can stay in the sun with a given SPF, use this equation:
Minutes to burn without sunscreen x SPF number = maximum sun exposure time
For example, if you burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure without using sunscreen, an SPF of 15 will allow you to be in the sun for up to 150 minutes without burning. But the condition for this equation to work is to apply the right quantity of cream on your body until you have a deep, penetrating layer of sunscreen.
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For an adult, the amount of sunscreen you should use is about the size of a regular golf-ball, or 1 oz.
3. Look for both UVA and UVB coverage. This means that the sunscreen will block both kinds of damaging ultraviolet light.
4. Look for a PABA-free sunscreen. Para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA, was used in sunscreens for a long time, but it can stain clothing and cause an allergic reaction in some people.
5. Choose a water-resistant sunscreen, if you will be swimming or sweating. No sunscreen is truly waterproof, so you should reapply the sunscreen frequently, according to package instructions.
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6 Start applying sunscreen at least a half hour before you go out. It takes approximately 20 minutes for sunscreen to become effective after it has been applied.
7 Put it on the most vulnerable areas: the entire face and forehead, especially the nose and tips of ears, back of the neck, backs of knees, arms, the tops of feet, Don't forget your lips, they can get burned too. Use a lip balm with SPF 15+.
8 Keep your sunscreen relatively fresh, replace anything older than about three years
9 Dress in light colors to reflect heat, wear clothes from natural fibers like cotton, Wear the right hat. Choose a hat with at least a 3-inch (8 cm) brim all around. A hat will also help to keep you cool. Look for clothing designed to block sun, even up to SPF 50, if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
10 Wet clothing can lose up to half of its UV protection, so always put a clean dry t-shirt on
11 Wear sunglasses. Choose sunglasses that block UV light and wrap around to block light from the side, too. If you're not sure whether your old sunglasses adequately block UV, ask an optometrist to have them checked. Long term exposure to UV light can lead to cataracts. Wear sunglasses in conjunction with a hat.
12 Stay hydrated. Water is the best choice. If you'll be exercising heavily, a sports drink can help to replace electrolytes. Drink in proportion to how much you perspire, but remember that too much too quickly can harm you. It's best to take frequent, moderate portions. Too much sugar, as in soda, can undermine the benefits of the liquid, and alcohol can dehydrate you outright.
13 Use sun protection even if it's cool and cloudy when you leave.
14 If possible, you should purchase a sunscreen that is paraben-free. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer.
15 When skiing or snowboarding, it is common to get a sunburn on your face. If you are planning to have some fun on the mountains, in any season, put on your sunscreen!
16 D'ont apply sunscreen too close to your eyes.
17 Children should use a minimum of SPF 25 - in fact many experts would say you should use SPF 30, 40 or even 50 on children.
About sun bath
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Sun bath is very important for perfect health. It has a mystical antibacterial and antifungal property. The sun showers three types of rays upon us:
1. Rays of visible (white) light - The white light of the sun is made up of light of seven different colors, as seen in the rainbow. Each color has its specific effects on the body.
2. Infra-red rays - These rays impart heat. The warmth of these rays is most welcome in the winter. Moreover, these rays relax and soothe muscles, reduce swelling and relieve pain.
3. Ultra-violet rays - These rays are of special importance. Vitamin D is produced in the body by the action of ultra-violet rays falling on the skin. Sunlight is in fact the best source of Vitamin D. A deficiency of Vitamin D causes a disease of the bones known as 'rickets'.
Not only the skin, but the entire body derives benefits from sunlight. Exposure to sunlight improves health and enhances the resistive powers of the body.
Other benefits of sun bath
1. Sunlight helps nourish the muscles. If the skin is deprived of sunlight by keeping it covered, the muscles tend to weaken and degenerate.
2. Sunlight promotes the proper formation of teeth, speedy growth of hair, and quick and deep breathing.
3. Blood pressure is brought down, and the kidneys become more efficient.
4. By the action of sun light, skin diseases are cured, blisters are burst and wounds are healed more speedily.
5. Sunlight maintains and even increases the amount of alkali in the blood.
6. If a pregnant lady takes sun baths regularly, she gets relief from the usual discomforts of pregnancy such as fatigue, backache, nausea, over stimulation and lactation in the post-parturition period is also improved.
How to take sun bath?
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You should begin by exposing the body to the sunlight for 5 to 10 minutes, the anterior parts of the body for half this period and the posterior parts for the other half. Later on, the period of exposure can be gradually increased, as convenient, to about an hour.
After sunbath, a cold-water bath should be taken, or the body wiped with a piece of cloth wrung out in cold water. The mild sun of the morning or the evening has no harmful effect on the body. It is always beneficial. But it is advisable to avoid exposing the body to the intense sunlight of the midday.
The discomfort experienced during a sun bath, or a burning sensation in the skin, is an indication of excessive exposure to sunlight.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
What we pack when we travel to seaside
Usually when we go on vacation we pack many and we use few.
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To avoid the nightmare of heavy luggages here is a useful list of things we should pack when going to seaside.
1. one or two swimming suits
2. slippers for beach or pool
3. one pair of sandals
4. towels (2)
5. 1 pair of long trousers
6. a polar blouse or a thick blouse for cold night
7. 1 pair of short trousers
8. T-shirts about 4 pairs
9. one beach dress
10. 2 dresses for restaurant or club
11. Underwears
12. medicines
13. sunglasses
14. hat
15. few cosmetics, nail scissors, nail file (in case you break your nails)
16. sun tan lotion, shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush
17. MP3 player, book
18. Phone, charger, personal documents, money and.... that's all.