Simple ways to protect your body from sunburn

What will sunburn do to you? It can cause you pain, make you feel the urge to vomit, cause your skin to peel badly, and change your skin tone, to mention a few.

Protecting your body from sunburn is a must because it is mainly caused by exposing the skin to the sun. It occurs when the amount of exposure is higher than the ability of the protective figment of the body, called melanin, to protect the skin. 

The following are steps that you can take to protect actively your body from sunburn:

1. Use sunscreen

I bet you saw this coming; it’s the ‘song’ on everyone’s lips. Get sunscreen prescribed for your skin type. Ensure that you apply it generously and consistently throughout the day.

2. Wear sunglasses

The essence of this is to protect your eyes from the sun. It is more effective to use glasses that block the rays from the sun properly and maximally. It’s not the kind that sunrays will penetrate through and shine indirectly on your face. 

3. Maximise shades

Find shades or use umbrellas to take a break from the sun when there is heat. You could also find shade under canopies or trees to prevent your body from sunburn. 

Also, you can create shades in your environment by pitching them in your compound or planting trees. All of these are to ensure that your skin is shielded from sunburn.

4. Strategically plan your outings.

On sunny days, avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. If you want to schedule activities like picnics, market visits, sports, gardening, etc., plan them for when the sun is less harsh or when it’s not out at all. You can target early in the morning or late in the afternoon to do this. 

5. Wear clothing that protects your skin.

To protect your skin from sunburn, you can wear clothes that cover it, opt for lightweight dresses, wear face caps, wide hats, or shift dresses for effective body coverage. 

6. Prioritise staying hydrated

Due to Nigeria’s warm climate, one can quickly become dehydrated. This is why you need to keep your body and skin hydrated all day long. Also, you can take more than water to stay hydrated. You can eat foods with hydrating content, such as fruits and vegetables.

 The advantage of being hydrated is that it keeps your skin healthy.

Above all, the measures pointed out all contribute to building healthy skin resilient against sunburn.

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