Summer is here, the weather is warm and grasses are green. It all looks so beautiful. Feeling the sun shining on my skin makes me feel alive, happy and positive, excluding the abnormal heat and hay fever that sometimes comes along with the sun. Everyone’s in the holiday mood. The kids love it too! Now that the weather is warmer, they always want to play outdoors. Which is great for us all, as they are usually knackered once we are done playing.
Summer is a lovely season, but this is also the season when we should be extra careful, since we be spending a good part of your time outdoors. We need to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and, most especially, from heat stroke. As much as I enjoy the sun, I try my best to take precautionary measures against the harsh effects of the sun to my skin and health. Prolonged exposure to the sun can be extremely harmful to the body. It is one of the main causes of skin cancer so it is important we stay safe in the sun.

Here are some simple tips to remember this summer –
1.    Buy the Right Sunscreen and Apply It Regularly
Although the sun gives the body a nice dose of vitamin D, staying under the sun for a long time can result to sunburn which can be very painful. We need to protect our skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays with a sunscreen lotion with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher. The higher the SPF, the more your skin gets protected from the sun.
Make sure that your sunscreen has the words “broad spectrum” on it. This means that the sunscreen has the ability to protect you from the harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Another thing to note about your sunscreen is that it must be waterproof. Since we sweat more during the hot weather, waterproof sunscreen will stay longer on the skin, especially if we plan to go swimming outdoors and all. Apply sunscreen every 2 hours. If you have been swimming or sweating a lot, you’ll need to apply it more frequently. Be generous with the amount of sunscreen you apply on your body, especially the parts that are exposed to the sun.
2.    Cover Up as Much as Possible
I know how tempting it is to show off as much skin as possible during the warmer months, but the truth is, we need to protect our skin from the sun as much as possible. There are smart and stylish ways of going about this; go for light long-sleeved tops or a beautiful maxi dresses. Chiffon is a nice material for the summer. It’s light and flowing.  Cotton fabrics are also ideal because it allows for the free flow of air.

3.    Wear a Hat
Hats can be a wonderful fashion accessory as they look very stylish and add more charm to the outfit. Get a wide-brimmed hat. This will help shield your face and hair from direct contact of the sun.  This will prevent the hair moisture from drying out.
4.    Wear sunglasses
Don’t neglect your eyes! Get sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. If you wear contact lenses like I do, make sure your contacts are specially designed to provide UV protection. I get mine from Boots Opticians. Done so for years now and the service has been second to none.
5.    Stay in the shade
The effect of the sun is particularly strong between 11am to 3pm. During this period stay in the shade as much as possible to protect yourself from the sun rays.

So there are tips for staying safe in the sun. Do you have any tips to share?