How do you cope with the sun?

When I was a teenager, we used to put on sun cream to increase the speed we got a tan.  Now we have learnt that being in the sun too long can be dangerous for our health.

The risks of being in the sun too long are:

• sunburn which can an increase your chances of developing serious health problems, such as skin cancer.
• sunstroke which is where the body is no longer able to cool itself and a person’s body temperature becomes dangerously high.
• ageing – exposure to the sun may be responsible for many of our wrinkles, but we probably all know people who love the sun and have great skin!!

But there are advantages of the sun:

• Many people love having a tan.
• The sun can increase our feeling of wellbeing.
• We need the sun to boost our levels of Vitamin D which has many health benefits including healthy bones and immune system.
• Sunlight deprivation can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression.

But it is key to stay safe in the hot weather, so here are some tips:

1.  Avoid sunburn at all cost
2. Stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day – from 11am to 3pm.
3. Sun creams offer some protection but they contain many chemicals.
4. Wear a hat or sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
5. Stay in the shade if you need to.
6. Keep hydrated.  Alcohol and fizzy drinks are the worst thing to drink as they make you more dehydrated.  Water is the best drink – ideally carry a bottle around with you.

Are you a sun worshiper or do you love the shade?