Have Fun In The Sun When You Travel.... Know Its Risks!
- Helen
- Feb 16, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 2, 2019
Eye rolling time I am sure... we hear 'sun risk' and those memories of nagging voices from worried parents or other concerned loved ones checking we have remembered the sunscreen surface. The desire to be out and having fun in the warm sunshine is overwhelming and we don't want anything (least of all boring 'safety concerns') to slow us down!
However, as adults now ourselves, it is down to us to be a little more responsible and accountable for ensuring our own protection in the sun - making sure that we can enjoy it's benefits and reduce the risks of any damage it could cause us.
During my nursing career, a large part of my role involved travel health and advising on the precautions to take when in sunny climates...
It also involved looking after people who had suffered the consequences of the sun's damage so I hope this qualifies me to share a little of my knowledge and advice here!
The Sun - Risks & Benefits!
...first some benefits:
The sun can be a huge benefit to us mentally and physically and many of us travel to seek out the sun.
Who doesn't feel happier when the sun is shining?
... and this is not just anecdotal fact either, there is scientific evidence to support the fact that exposure to sunshine reduces rates of depression and can improve seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
From the sun we absorb Vitamin D which has a large number of important functions in the human body -including helping bone strength and teeth development and boosting our immune systems.
There are also growing links that Vitamin D is important in reducing our chances of developing some types of cancers and other conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
A beautiful sunny day has the additional benefit that it is more likely to pull us from the house, engaging in and enjoying the outdoors!
However, the sun can also be very damaging to our skin and eyes....
The sun generates two types of UV radiation that we cannot see but are damaging to our skin and eyes, even on cloudy days:
- UV-A radiation - penetrates deeply into the skin
- UV-B radiation - affects the top layer of the skin.
UV-B radiation is largely absorbed by ozone, but in areas of the world where ozone cover is reduced, the need for sensible precautions year round is even greater.
The UV radiation levels at any one time at your destination will also be affected by the time of day and year, the altitude, reflection (e.g. from water or snow) and closeness to the equator (due to ozone protection).
The most immediate, short term risk to us from the sun is of course sun-burn (caused by UV-B radiation) which is incredibly uncomfortable in mild cases but if severe can lead to a person becoming very unwell.
Longer term, sun damage to the skin can lead to skin cancers and premature skin ageing...
Both UV-A and UV-B radiation can cause skin cancer and UV-A can cause long term skin changes such as wrinkles, sun blotches, freckles and sagging....
Want to delay those wrinkles?... you know what to do!
As well as skin damage, the sun can also damage your eyes.
If you are very unlucky, you can develop a type of sunburn to the cornea of your eyes (very uncomfortable and can cause temporary vision loss), but sun exposure without eye protection can also lead to the later development of cataracts, macular degeneration and even some types of eye cancer...
Why risk it?
Simple measures that I am sure you have heard before and know too well can make the sun's benefits overwhelmingly outweigh any risks.
Protecting Yourself From The Sun's Harm To Enjoy The Benefits!
As I said before, the measures to ensure the sun is enjoyed and exposure to it does not lead to future regrets are very simple, so no excuses!
The public health sun protection campaigns I find the most memorable are the all encompassing Ozzie and Kiwi approaches of,
'Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap'....
So...
- SLIP... on a shirt (ideally with longer sleeves) and into the shade, particularly at times of the day the sun is strongest (lunchtime and early afternoon).
- SLOP on the sunscreen (SPF15-30 or above for UV-B protection and 4 star UV-A protection... I would advise though against full sun block as this also removes the vitamin D health benefits we gain from the sun).
- SLAP on a hat (with a wide brim)... more people get burnt to the face and neck than other parts of their body.... and it is the face that the wrinkles will show in future!
- WRAP on some shades... sunglasses that are close fitting or 'wrap' around provide the best eye protection (just ensure they offer full UV protection when you buy them).
Reducing your risks from the sun is not complicated.... You know it makes sense!
Sunburn And How To Manage It
If the worse does happen and you or someone with you does develop burnt skin from the sun then ensure you know what to do...
Most cases of sunburn will be relatively mild, causing red and uncomfortable skin for a few days that will likely peel and can be self managed.
To manage sunburn:
- Get out of the sun as soon as you can!
- Keep burnt skin covered with loose fitting clothing, away from further sun exposure until healed.
- Cool the affected skin with a cool (not icy) shower, bath or flannel.
- Keep the skin moisturised, using after-sun lotions or aloe vera if available, but otherwise a good emollient.
- If needed take basic painkillers, such as paracetamol.
- If the skin blisters, leave the blisters intact - do not attempt to pop them (this might introduce infection).
- Avoid scratching the affected skin - if itchy keep applying cooling lotions to soothe.
- Ensure you keep well hydrated - drink plenty of water!
In severe cases, sunburn can become a medical issue that will need attention.
Ensure you see a doctor or health professional if:
- The skin does blister or is swollen
- You feel dizzy, sick or have headaches or muscle cramps (this could be a sign of sunstroke)
- Your temperature is raised, you feel hot and shivery (again, a sign of sunstroke that needs to be taken seriously).
If the person with sun burn is a young child or a baby then regardless of the above ensure they are seen by a health professional.
Final Words...
Hopefully that has been a little refresher on why we need to be 'sun aware' and take precautions in sunnier climates when we travel.
Ensure that all you come home from your travels with is a lovely (safe) tan, amazing memories and a suitcase of souvenirs.
Don't let those memories later be filled with regrets as the wrinkles appear prematurely, the skin cancer is diagnosed or the cataracts need removing due to not taking adequate protection now.
Slip, slop, slap, wrap and have fun in the sun!
Other Resources:
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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