Sun Safety

Sun Safety: Tips for Enjoying the Irish Summer Safely

The weather may often be unpredictable in Ireland, but it’s important to protect yourself against the sun so that you can relax and enjoy the summer season. Sun safety is vital for children and adults, and finding the right products to help you protect your skin and your health in the sun can make life much easier. Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we’re always happy to help with your healthcare queries and we can assist you in finding the best sun protection products for yourself and your family.

Whether you are enjoying the Irish beaches and countryside or travelling abroad for a holiday, you’ll need to ensure that you protect yourself against the sun. Surprisingly, the sun may be more dangerous earlier in the year since the UV levels are higher and you may find yourself getting unexpectedly sunburned in early Spring. It is much easier to get sunburned when you spend a lot of time in the water or if there is a lot of wind, so pay attention to your environment and ensure that you protect yourself and your family at all times.

How to stay safe in the sun

Using sun safety techniques against sunburn can help prevent skin cancer and premature ageing and is a good habit to teach your children from an early age. It is important to consider the following factors:

1. Use sun cream or lotion. You should use sun cream or lotion with an appropriate SPF (Sun Protection Factor) whenever you are spending time out of doors, and most people should use it all year round. You should use an SPF factor of 30 as a minimum in the summer and consider SPF50 for children and if you are travelling to a hotter climate for a holiday. Look for a broad-spectrum sun protection product to protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays, and make sure that you reapply it regularly, especially if you are going in and out of water.
2. Spend time in the shade. You can take care of yourself and your family by avoiding the sun at the hottest times of the day, often between 10 am and 4 pm in the summertime. This is when the rays of the sun are strongest and likely to do the most damage, and seeking shade under trees or parasols or taking a break to spend time indoors can help you stay cool and protect you against sunburn and heatstroke, simply staying out of the sun is the easiest method of exercising sun safety.
3. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is an essential way to stay hydrated when you are spending time in the sun, and you should ensure that you have a good supply of water if you are spending the day on the beach or by the pool. Many cafes will refill a reusable water bottle for free, which can be very helpful when you are out for a long time.
4. Don’t forget to protect your lips. The skin on the lips is thinner and can burn more easily than other areas, so it is very important to protect your lips from the sun with a lip balm that contains SPF. If you are on holiday abroad, you will need to pay special attention to this, especially if you are skiing, where the reflections from the snow can increase your exposure to harmful UV rays. We love Blistex Ultra Lip Balm with SPF 50+ for complete protection.
5. Consider your clothing. Although it may seem contrary, it is better to cover up your skin with light clothing than to wear minimal clothing when you are trying to stay cool. For instance, wearing a light-weight, long-sleeved top and trousers will keep you cooler and protect you from burning, and you can protect your face with a wide-brimmed sun hat.
6. Wear sunglasses. The eyes can be easily damaged by harmful UV rays, as well as the delicate skin around the eyes. You should wear good quality sunglasses that will protect your eyes from the sun, ensuring that these have the highest level of UV protection for both UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses are especially important if you are likely to be in a situation where the sun is reflected and the burning potential is higher, such as near water or in the car.

These measures are particularly important for children, who have more delicate skin and are likely to burn more easily. For very young children and babies, it is best to avoid direct exposure to the sun wherever possible and keep them in the shade or indoors whenever you can.

What is SPF?

Sun cream or lotion will always have its SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, displayed but what does this mean? It measures how well the product can protect your skin from UVB rays, which are the most dangerous and most likely to cause sunburn that contributes to skin cancer. The SPF tells you how much protection the sunscreen product will provide compared to wearing no sun protection.

For instance, if your sun cream states that it has SPF 50, this means your skin will be protected for fifty times longer than if you were not wearing sun cream or lotion. SPF 15 can offer a moderate level of protection but most people, especially children, will require a higher level of protection, especially at the hottest times of the day in the summer months. SPF 30 is a good option for most people, and many choose this or SPF 50 for a little extra peace of mind, especially if they have fair or sensitive skin or will be spending a long time outdoors. SPF 50+ is the highest level of protection currently available and is recommended if you burn easily have very fair skin or have previously had a skin cancer removed.

It is very important to understand that your sun cream or lotion will only protect you from UVB rays, and UVA rays can also contribute to skin damage and ageing. This means it is essential to consider all of the other protective measures mentioned above to ensure that you are fully protected from the sun.

How to use sun cream or lotion effectively:

When you are going to be spending time outdoors, especially when the weather is hot, you should apply your sun cream or lotion before you leave the house. Ensure that you cover all areas that will be exposed, including your face. Check whether your make-up contains SPF and whether this is high enough to protect your skin from the sun, and use additional skin protection if needed. We recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Oil Control Fluid SPF50+ for a long-lasting mattifying effect, especially for oily skin and skin that is prone to blemishes. It melts into the skin without leaving white marks and gives you a great level of protection all day.

You will need to reapply your sun cream or lotion regularly throughout the day. It is usually suggested that you reapply every two hours, but you may need to do so more frequently if it is a very hot day or if you are swimming or going in and out of the sea, especially if you are towel drying yourself in between. You should take special care with children, checking whether they need their sun protection reapplied more often and ensuring that they spend time in the shade, especially if their skin feels warm to the touch.

What to do if you get sunburned:

If you get sunburned despite your precautions, it is essential to get out of the sun as soon as possible to prevent further exposure. You should cool the skin down as quickly as you can, by taking a cool shower or bath or applying a cool cloth to the burned area. You should take care to ensure that the body temperature does not drop too quickly as this can be dangerous, especially for children, so the water should be cool but not cold.

Rehydrating the body is important, and you should drink plenty of water to help replace the fluids you have lost. You can also moisturise the skin using aloe vera gel or an aftersun product, but make sure that the skin is cool before you apply anything to it or you risk causing further damage to the skin. Garnier Ambre Solaire Aftersun Spray is a nourishing option to replenish the moisture lost from the skin and soothe areas of redness or discomfort.

If you are severely sunburned or think you may have heat stroke, it is very important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Heat stroke can be extremely dangerous, especially for children, so do not take any risks if you or a child in your care have a high temperature, feel lethargic or sleepy or can not cool down when removed from the sun. If your sunburn is very painful, has become infected or has blistered over a large area of skin, seek help from a doctor or pharmacist to find out if you need further treatment.

Visit our experienced team at Gray’s Pharmacy

Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we have an excellent range of sun protection products and we can help you to find exactly what you need for your holidays and the summer at home. We can help you to find sun lotion and aftersun for yourself and your family, and we will be happy to advise you on the best options for your lifestyle.

At Gray’s Pharmacy, our friendly, experienced team is always available to discuss your healthcare needs and offer advice and support. We offer services including diabetes care, ostomy care and smoking cessation services, as well as online services that allow you to book consultations online. You can also order all of your healthcare, skincare, haircare and beauty products online, or visit our Irish independently-owned community Pharmacy in Castletroy, Limerick.