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 Avoid Getting Burned

Summer is a season filled with days spent outdoors, whether you’re on a beach, a boat, at a park, or in your own back yard. Unfortunately, it is also the most critical season for sunburns to occur. Due to over-exposure and prolonged time spent in the sun, our skin becomes red and sore from being exposed to damaging ultraviolet rays. This happens because the capillaries in the epidermis are damaged and get dilated, while the external layer of the skin gets thinner. Repeated sunburns can lead to allergies, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and skin cancer.

While too much sun can cause sunburn and skin damage, moderate sunshine is necessary and beneficial to health. We all need adequate amounts of daily sunlight to stay healthy. Sunshine is the main source of vitamin D, which can prevent colds, flu, depression, and reduce the risk of certain cancers and other diseases such as osteoporosis. The light from the sun is very healing. Try to get moderate sun exposure every day. The trick is not to burn. How much is too much depends on the individual.

Ideally, you want to protect yourself from getting overexposed in the first place, because each time you burn, you’re permanently damaging your skin. Although sunscreen is the most effective way to guard the body against the sun’s rays, most tend to contain harmful chemicals that cause damage to the body in other ways. To find out which sunscreens are the best and if your current products make the grade, go to: www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen.

Food is a great way to give your body what it needs to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays from the inside. Here are some foods to load up on before you step outside:
       - Foods rich in lycopene- tomatoes/tomato juice, watermelons, and grapefruit juice
       - Polyunsaturated fats- vegetable oils (safflower, corn, sunflower, soy and cottonseed oils), nuts, and seeds
       - Omega 3 fatty acids- fatty cold-water fish (such as salmon, mackerel and herring), flaxseeds, flax oil, and   walnuts
       - Vitamin C- bell peppers, broccoli, papaya, Brussels sprouts, and strawberries 
       - Vitamin E- sunflower seeds, almonds, olives, and dark green leafy vegetables
       - Green tea is packed with antioxidants that help block DNA damage caused by UV rays.

Try to avoid being outdoors from 10:00am- 2:00pm, which is when the UV rays are the strongest. If you know you’re going to be in the sun for a prolonged period of time, make sure you have a hat and clothing to cover up exposed skin and make sure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from damage as well.  

After a severe sunburn, you should avoid applying greasy or oily lotions, salves, and ointments, as they will obstruct the pores, blocking heat and pain within the epidermis.  Also refrain from using commercial soaps that contain chemical compounds because the detergents in the soap will irritate the skin.

Fresh Aloe Vera gel is one of the best things to apply to the damaged areas, as this will help the epidermis recover quickly. The sterols in this healing plant are anti-inflammatory and will prevent skin from swelling, while the nutritive mineral zinc will enhance tissue regeneration. A couple of other tricks that can help cool and sooth inflamed skin:
       - Lukewarm bath with a cup of baking soda or apple cider vinegar
       - Compresses of cold green or black tea
       - Apply sliced raw vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers

What you consume when suffering from sunburns is also highly important. Drinking a lot of water and eating foods rich in vitamin C, E, betacarotene, and Zinc will speed the recovery of the skin.

Sun can be an energizing and healing gift of nature as long as you don’t overdue it. Protect yourself by eating healthy, applying safe and natural sunscreen regularly, covering up, and avoiding the midday rays. The sun is your friend; don’t make it your enemy by getting burned!