While sunbathing ensures tremendous health benefits, there’s always a right and a wrong way to go about it. Exposure to the sun can be beneficial when you take it in small doses. In this post, we have come up with a set of guidelines that should help sunbathe in the right way.
Sometimes, you might be lying under the sun to get some tan. Without adequate protection like SRF, you might experience skin conditions like melanoma. However, with the right approach, exposure to the sun converts cholesterol to Vitamin D. This can prevent certain diseases and ailments in humans.
Naturally, you should be knowing how to benefit from exposure to the sun.
Why is it important to sunbathe in the right way?
Before you go out sunbathing, it makes sense to be aware of the associated risks. For instance, spending too much time under the scorching sun can give you red and itchy heat rashes.
Besides, you may experience painful heat burns and even blisters. This might affect all the exposed body parts, including sensitive areas like your lips. Later in life, you might suffer from melanoma.
Failing to sunbathe in the right way can also result in PMLE (polymorphic light eruption) or sun poisoning. This ailment is characterized by itchy red lumps on your arms, legs, and chest.
Tips for sunbathing: What you should do and what not
- In the first place, it’s crucial to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water so that you don’t encounter problems like dehydration.
- During sunbathing, use a wet towel to cover your head. This will prevent you from a possible heat stroke if you overdo it.
- Make sure to use cool water while taking your regular bath after sunbathing.
- Try not to consume anything immediately after your sunbath. There should be an interval of at least one hour between your sunbath and the next meal.
- Also, don’t consume any food two hours before going for your sunbath.
- If you are allergic to heat or experience regular issues with your sensitive skin, it’s wise not to take a sunbath.
- The same applies to people experiencing heart problems. Don’t try to expose yourself to heat when your system can’t endure it.
- Coming to your protection, use sunscreen of SPF 30 or more. Apply it to the exposed parts of your body 15 minutes before sunbathing. Apply around one ounce of sunscreen over your body for adequate protection.
- Apply sunscreen on your lips, hands, forehead, hands, and feet.
- Refrain from using tanning beds. These are dangerous, and most of them hardly contain any UVB light that can stimulate the production of Vitamin D.
- When the heat starts getting unbearable, take some rest under a shade.
The ideal duration for a sunbath
In case you aren’t using sunscreen, try not to remain exposed to the sun for more than 20 minutes. Dermatologists recommend spending not more than 10 minutes under direct sun rays. However, this largely depends on the heat intensity, outdoor temperature, season, and distance of your country from the equator.
However, with proper protection like sunscreen, you can sunbathe for as long as 30 minutes.
With the proper approach, you can enhance blood circulation in your body and remove toxins. Your bones also need sunlight to absorb calcium. Experts believe that sun exposure enables your skin to synthesize Vitamin D3. With the right approach, you can benefit from exposure to sun rays.