For many visitors traveling south for the winter, there is nothing more soothing than the sun’s warming touch on your skin. Destinations like sunny Barbados are perfect for escaping in the sun. Taking home a nice tan is one of the best souvenirs there is. Relaxing in the sun definitely has its perks, vitamin D aside, but with skin cancer on the rise we cannot pretend that laying out with baby oil is still ‘hot.’ Here is a list of 5 tips to ensure you make the most of the rays, but in a more safe way.
- Always, always, always wear sunblock. The short term and long term effects of a sunburn are just not worth it. No one wants to be nicknamed ‘lobster’ on vacation and shine bright red in all of the holiday photos. We recommend at least an SPF 15. Look for “broad-spectrum” on the label this will block out most of the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Water resistant sunblock is always best. Even if you are not planning on going swimming you should remember that in hot locations you will be more prone to sweating. You can still get a nice tan whilst wearing sunblock, but you can relax knowing that you are minimizing your risk of a bad burn or even worse, skin cancer. Don’t forget to reapply sunblock every two hours.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of cool fluids, especially good old H2O. Alcohol will actually dehydrate you further. It is important to drink water before going into the sun as well as while you are in the sun. If you are planning long full day excursions make sure to walk with a water bottle. In Barbados the tap water is safe to drink, fresh from our underwater cave supply. We recommend walking with reusable water bottles which you can refill based on your needs.
- Dress according to the Weather. Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from breathable fabric such as cotton. Light-coloured clothing also prevents sun burn as it reflects the light also helping you to feel cooler. Wear sunglasses that provide UVA and UVB protection. Wearing a hat with a brim all the way around will not only protect your skin and help you to keep cool but will make you look like you stepped right out of a magazine. Avoid baseball caps, while they do protect your eyes from the glare, they leave your ears and neck exposed and at risk of being burnt.
- Limit your time in the sun. The midday sun is the hottest and most harmful. UV is at its highest when the sun is directly overhead. Limit your hours in direct sunlight, especially between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Try to schedule outdoor activities for early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun is lower in the sky.
- Moisturize your skin. After showering apply moisturizer to your entire body. A moisturizer with SPF protection is best in the morning, to protect you from the sun throughout the day. After a day in the sun it is best to use a moisturizer with Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera was used by the ancient Egyptians to heal wounds and soothe skin. It is still being used today in many remedies such as healing sunburns. Moisturizers with aloe are not only therapeutic to the skin but are very soothing as they leave your skin feeling cool and refreshed. We do not recommend using the Aloe leaf as it will stain anything it touches including your clothes and hotel furniture. Moisturizing daily will cause your sun kissed skin to glow and prevent wrinkles from surfacing in later years.
Come relax and enjoy the sun from the warmth of our sandy white beaches at Bougainvillea Beach Resort.
