Sun Protection Methods for You to Practice and Stay Healthy
Some ways may be more effective than others, but they are
all certainly important.
They generally promote sun safety, healthy skin and disease prevention.
This in turn could potentially save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in medical bills as you and your skin age.
Normally you would think that the Sun, the beach, summer and skin all go hand in hand. But the truth of the matter is that sunlight exists 365 days a year in most parts of our world.
Therefore, UV rays or Ultraviolet radiation surround us on most days whether it's sunny, cloudy or overcast.
The UV index can range from 1 to more than 10 and it gets much stronger at higher elevations such as mountain tops.
As the saying goes, little by little and in this case ray by ray the sun damages add up. Hence the skin cancer rate is rising every year.
According to FDA, one person dies every hour from melanoma which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.
So, let's go more into detail about Sun protection and you.
Even though due to the nature of sun protection there are no 100% guarantees, but there are ways to prevent or delay sunburn, skin disorders, skin damage, skin aging, skin cancers such as melanoma and even eye sight problems.
Here is a list of many ways in which you can be actively sun protective: 
1) Wear sun hats or better known as a sun protection hat. There are many companies nowadays who sell them on line.
Just a regular baseball cap will not do the job because you will be leaving the lower back portion of your head, back of your neck as well as your face and ears exposed to the sun and UV rays.
2) Wear sun glasses which have 100% UV protection rating for both UVA and UVB.
They should be fitted so well that your eyes are covered from side to side as well as from the top, also known as wrap design.
It would also be better if the lenses were polarized.
This will help fight the reflections off of the road and other reflective surfaces better, resulting in a sharper view.
3) Use a good sun block, sun screen lotion or sunscreen wipes to cover your face and your lower neck area in the front.
Sun blocks use actual metallic particles in them to reflect the sun damaging rays, where sunscreen uses chemicals to absorb the rays.
They should be all rated 99% or more for UVA and UVB with sun protection factor of 30 (spf 30) or higher. Do not use them on babies less than six months old.
There is also lip protection available which is extremely important for the sensitive skin in that area, specially the lower part.
An example would be Aloe Vera with vitamin E sunscreen lip balm with spf 30.
4) If it has not been done yet, your closet needs to make a switch for the better. Slowly but surely, this will be one of the smartest moves you will ever make for yourself and your family.
Of course, I am referring to sun protective clothing or otherwise known as UV protection clothing. This includes travel clothing, UV protection swimwear as well as day to day sun protection shirt and pants.
You know that you are protected the whole time and not need to re-apply anything, except where exposed.
Barefoot only if you are at the beach and have stuck you feet very deep in the sand for sun protection. Otherwise, water shoes which cover your feet all around are the best.
This not only avoids getting sunburn blisters or even skin cancer, but also let's you keep your hands look younger.
Sunburn prevention is part of your daily sun protection.
But if you are reading this too late, there is sunburn cure and sunburn home remedy such as sunburn lotion.
However, if they are rated less than 99% uv protection it's better to have them tinted all around using solar film or 99% uv film for maximum sun protection.
It's recommended by the tinting professionals to have the driver and the front passenger's side windows done light to medium in color and not really dark.
Otherwise you might get into an accident, a traffic ticket or both.
Please check your local traffic laws before installing the tint and always be sun safe.
There is a kind that's very handy and compact when closed and can be used when walking thru your favorite sights or cities.
I used to fit one in my back pocket, while walking thru the streets of Rome in the heat because I did not want to have a sunstroke either.
This would be ideal for the dear ladies who wear stylish topless dresses and leave their shoulders exposed.
Also if you are driving during middle of the day when uv index is very high (10 or more being really extreme), it would be an added protection to cover your lap with any piece of uv fabric.
I use one of my uv shirts for this purpose.
9) Buy special laundry detergent that adds uv protection to your clothes in the wash cycle.
Once added it remains in your clothes for several more wash cycles.
Please check the individual detergent box for additional information.
Normally, bleach should not be mixed in, the first time around but after that it should be okay.
Please check the manufacturer's recommendation at Alex & Me Company.
10) Baby protection during infancy is just as important (if not more) as the Beachwear or Children’s swimwear they use in the later years.
The little ones should not be left out.
They will thank you for it.
11) While flying in an airplane , it's better to lower the window shade all the way down.
This will block any rays that might be hitting you especially in the face.
12) Whether at home or a hotel, close your drapes and shutters before going to bed. This will prevent you from getting hit with the early morning sun rays.
13)Always seek shade or shade structures if you can in order to be a sun safe individual.
For instance a traffic light post can protect you, while waiting for the light to turn green.
14)Avoid tanning beds by all means. They emit UV radiation as well.
If getting enough vitamin D is the concern here, that can be accomplished thru a well balanced diet prescribed by your medical doctor.
 
Ironically, someone once said "I am dying to get a tan".
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