How To Stay Safe In The Sun Through Summer
Summertime is still here, just about. With another heatwave potentially on the cards and a September period that could throw up some surprisingly warm days, there’s definitely still some sun for us to enjoy yet.
It’d be easy to think that through the back end of August and heading into the autumnal months the sun gets less dangerous, but if we are going to have a few more 25-degree days you still need to be as careful as ever when out and about. Sun safety comes in a few different forms, but here are three key tips to be aware of.
Know your ABCDEs when it comes to moles
The experts at Transform Hospital Group know their facts and skincare is hugely important in hot weather, but it’s even more essential for anyone with any moles on their skin. A change in your skin, whether that’s a new mole or mark or a mole that’s changed, can sometimes be tough to spot, but there’s a simple ABCDE method to help you keep an eye out for any changes worth discussing with your doctor:
- Asymmetry: look out for moles that aren’t uniform in shape, as these could be melanoma
- Border: look out for moles with poorly defined borders or that are irregular in their shape, as these could be melanoma
- Colour: melanoma lesions are often more than one color, while moles are typically just one
- Diameter: melanoma growths are usually larger than 6mm in diameter
- Evolution: melanoma will often change in size, shape, or color and will change over time
If you catch melanoma early enough, you should be able to treat it effectively through surgery or otherwise. The above tips can help you make that early spot.
Schedule in some shade time
We all love being out in the sun and basking in some serious rays, but over-exposure to the sun – even if you have got your sun cream and perfect sunglasses ( e.g Polarized Sunglasses)on – can lead to a number of problems including heat exhaustion, sunburn, sunstroke, and dehydration.
Especially at peak times in the day when the sun’s rays are at their most powerful, make sure you take a break or too in cooler shaded areas to avoid running into any problems.
Factor your sun cream incorrectly
Talking of sun cream, there’s always the temptation to go a bit too brave with the SPF rating and put on a bit of 15 or 20 when really you need 30 or above. Especially if you’ve got friends who are “tanners” and can get away with covering themselves in nothing more than glorified cooking oil, you might fancy taking a chance that you can do the same.
For the average pale Brit and the kids, however, an SPF of 30 or higher should always be used – and make sure it offers at least 4-star UVA protection.
We might be in the back end of summer, but there’s still some nice weather to be had yet. With the tips above, you can make sure the rest of 2021’s sunny days offer plenty of fun in the sun without any trouble.
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