Want to enjoy the sun? Know how!

The easiest way to avoid sunburn and sun damage is not going outside during the day. However, that is not fun, right? You will also get bored when you are cooped up at home and also if you don’t have the budget for a vacation. There are a number of ways in which you can easily enjoy the sun without causing damage to your skin. Check out the frugal ways from this article, with which you can enjoy the outdoors. However, before you can start planning these activities, here are a few important steps:

Use sunscreen: According to a recent study, the majority of Americans do not use sunscreens. You must choose a sunscreen even when the sun is not shining and it is a cloudy day. The sunscreen that you choose must protect against both UVA and UVB radiations. Therefore, a sunscreen with more than 30 SPF must be used. Apply it 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure.

Full-body coverage: Along with a sunscreen, you must also protect the entire body with items such as a hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved dresses and pants. Many fashion brands nowadays offer built-in sun protection with their clothing.

Pursue shade and avoid peak sun: Aim for areas with shade when you are spending a lot of time outside. Use a pop-up beach tent when the shade is not available. Avoid all sort of outdoor activities between 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. This will ultimately help in the prevention of exhaustion and heat stroke.

Moderation is key: Just because one glass of wine is good for health, it does not necessarily mean that the entire bottle of wine is better. Even though many studies have focused on the importance of Vitamin D, few kinds of research suggest that 10 minute of daily sun exposure is enough for adequate Vitamin D. According to the Vitamin D Council, you must consume Vitamin D supplements when your body cannot get the required sun exposure.

Check out the ways in which you can enjoy your summer days.

Picnic: Find out the nearest lake or beach to enjoy a relaxing picnic. Summer is the time for spending time on the shore so just grab the tote and fill it with food, drinks, books or magazines and any outdoor game. Invite friends and family to ensure that you have a great time together.

Summer movies at the park: Most of the local parks and recreation centres plays summer movie. You can pack a picnic and enjoy such movies with your family members, friends and neighbours.

Be a host: You can host a potluck barbeque in your backyard or by the pool. This will not cost as much as you will encourage attendees to bring a dish along with them to share. After the meal, you may even go hiking around a park.

Now that your outdoor activities are sorted, let’s discuss the benefits that you can achieve through sun exposure. More people have had more skin cancer than prostate, breast, lung and colon cancers combined is the last 30 years. As reported by Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans is likely to develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. However, avoiding the sun entirely is not the solution. Even though there are a number of consequences of extreme sun exposure, there are plentiful benefits of limited sun exposure. According to scientific studies, daily sun exposure can reduce the risk of some cancers, help to alleviate mood, induce better sleep, reduce blood pressure as well as the chances of having a heart attack and stroke.

Sunshine acts as a mood booster as it initiates the release of endorphins and serotonin. The effect is similar to the effect that can be attained from exercising. Spending time in the sun also helps in regulating sleep. Therefore, sunshine can be considered the best medicine in many respects.

Did you know that there are health risks with vitamin D deficiency? According to a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine in March 2016, non-smokers who avoid the sun entirely had a similar life expectancy to smokers with highest sun exposure. This indicates that avoiding the sun had a risk factor for death which is similar of magnitude as smoking. The Vitamin D Council even links the Vitamin D deficiency with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, asthma, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

How to prevent and repair sun damage?

The last thing that comes to the mind about sun safety is food. However, according to doctors, the pigments that are found in a number of foods such as carrots, tomatoes and peppers can help in cases of sun damage. When the damage has already occurred then foods that are high in antioxidants such as pomegranates can help with the healing. Guavas, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs as well as leafy greens are also beneficial. These are filled with lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein that protects the skin and repairs any sort of damage. The vitamin C found in red peppers when combined with vitamin E (found in wheat germ) helps in preventing as well as repairing the cellular damage caused by UV radiation. There’s an in-between happy spot between housebound and skin damage. You must dab on some sunscreen and find out your happy spot.

Skin cancer can also be due to a genetic disorder and PatientMD helps you to understand the genetic basis of such type of diseases. We also provide a cure for such diseases and many more. Our Artificial Intelligence helps in detecting such skin cancer.