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Sun Safety

Everyone loves to come to Florida, go to the beach, and get a tan. But, unfortunately there is no way to tan safely. The sun’s reflective powers on the sand and the water are great and may cause severe damage to your skin if you don’t take a few precautions.

Everyone needs to wear sunscreen daily, regardless of their skin tone. Even on cloudy days you can get sunburn. Clouds don’t filter out Ultra Violet (UV) rays and can give a false sense of protection. You may also be unaware that you’re developing sunburn on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps your skin feeling cool on the surface.

The sun’s rays are the strongest between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue staff recommends that you wear a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing when not swimming. Always use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher year round for all skin types. You should also drink lots of water.

For maximum effectiveness, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before you go outside. This allows the sunscreen to penetrate the skin. Reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours and apply liberally. Water resistant products can be rubbed off after towel drying or lose their effectiveness after prolonged swimming or heavy perspiration. For continued protection reapply sunscreen, regardless of the label, when you come out of the water.

Some medications increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can increase sun sensitivity.

• Apply wet cool compresses to the skin to alleviate pain and heat, or take a cool shower or bath
• Apply pure aloe vera gels to provide comfort and help skin heal faster
• Drink fluids
• Seek medical help if the burn is accompanied by headache, faintness, chills, fever, or blisters form over a large area
• Stay out of the sun until the sunburn is healed