How to Be Safe In The Sun

During summer, wherever we’re planning on spending our holidays, we all want to capitalise on any sunny weather we’re lucky enough to receive. However, don’t let your holiday be thwarted by sore skin or feelings of guilt if your kids catch the sun.

Put it this way – applying lots of sun cream throughout the day will mean you won’t have to apply after‐sun lotion for days on end afterwards! Don’t let your desperation to look sun‐kissed and glowy lead to looking quite the opposite – flaky‐skinned and miserable.

To help you avoid looking like a bacon rasher (that is, aesthetically unpleasing), here are 4 top tips for doing sun safely:

Everyone knows that sun cream is important but fewer people consider the SPF of the lotion that they’re using. Ideally, use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above (SPF 50+ for children). Regardless of what the label on the bottle says, try to re‐apply the lotion at least every two hours and be particularly on top of reapplication if you’ve been in the sea or the pool – the reflection from the water strengthens the sun’s rays. Don’t just put it in the obvious places ‐ it needs to go in smaller spots too e.g. the back of your neck, tops of ears and your feet etc

Make sure you’re sufficiently covered up – we’re talking hats, sunglasses and adequate clothing coverage! Buy sunglasses and hats that your children won’t mind wearing (be sure to make sure that any sunglasses you buy have a label stating that they block UV rays). Covering up is always a good idea, although remember that the sun’s rays can reach through material that is overly sheer.

To avoid both sunburn and heat stroke, take regular breaks . Head indoors or hide out in the shade once in a while to avoid getting sunstroke. This is particularly important between 11am and 3pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

Whilst out and about in the sun, It’s super important to keep hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially if you’ve been sweating a lot. Stay on top of this, and eliminate the chances of this by making sure you get your daily recommendation of 2.5 litres in!