Public Servant Lifestyle

If you're heading away for a spot of sun we've got a few suggestions to help make your stay fun for your skin.

Sun Rules

We might not get that much sunshine in Britain, but when we do - or if you head away for sunnier climes - you'll need to protect your skin from the effects of the sun - on your face - but also on the other parts of your body that will be even less conditioned to the sunshine...

Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself from sunburn, when travelling overseas:

Invest in a face moisturiser with built-in SPF 15 or higher, such as Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 15

Slather on sun screen at least half an hour before you go outside

If you're playing sport outdoors, you'll need a waterproof sunscreen to deal with swimming and sweat

If you're outdoors all day, reapply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours

Try a Little Tenderness

There are some spots you really don't want to get sunburnt:

Get a high factor sunscreen for eyes and lips, such as Prescriptive Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 for Lips and Eyes

Don't neglect your scalp. Try Bumble and Bumble Sun Spray

After Sun

To keep your skin super-soft, you'll need to do a little work after the sun goes down:

Exfoliate twice a week to give skin a healthy glow and improve circulation

If you're prone to dry skin, you'll need to moisturise every day during hot weather

Keep make-up to a minimum. Try some of the new skin illuminating products that are hitting the market

To keep skin radiant, there's nothing like drinking lots of water

Remember: exposure to the sun can cause serious skin damage including sunburn, blistering and skin ageing and in the long term can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer suffered by people in the UK - with over 50,000 new cases every year.

You can avoid unnecessary exposure by:

Wearing long sleeve shirts or loose clothing with a close weave

Wearing hats with a wide brim

Taking breaks in the shade whenever possible

"A suntan is not a sign of good health"

Norman Smith, the Health and Safety Executive's radiation policy adviser says: "Sun protection is important and people need to realise that sunburnt skin is damaged skin. A suntan is not a sign of good health".

Stay in the shade or indoors

The sun is at its most dangerous between 11am and 3pm. Find shade under umbrellas, trees or canopies. It is worth remembering that the temperature is at least a couple of degrees cooler if you are by water.

Use sunscreen and cover up

If you can't avoid being out in the sun apply sunscreen (factor 15+) and wear a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses. Increase your fluid intake.

The normal recommended daily intake of fluid is 2.5 litres or 8 glasses per day. In extreme heat experts recommend you drink more and include a range of different fluids.

Look after the elderly - protect small children

Older people are more prone to the effects of heat. If you have older relatives or friends travelling with you – or are an older person yourself – you should remember that you can help simply by drinking plenty of fluids - and often. A mixture of drinks including tea, fruit juice and water can be taken to relieve and prevent dehydration. Also, you will need to keep a close eye on any young children, who need plenty of fluids. Babies and the very young must be kept out of the sun.

T-Shirts May Not Be Enough

Officers from Somerset County Council Trading Standards joined with colleagues across the South West to test items, which might reasonably be expected to give sun protection against the sun's harmful rays.

Of the 72 items tested, nearly a half would not comply with the European Standard, EN 13758. Items tested included T-shirts, blouses, polo shirts, sarongs and sunhats.

To claim compliance with the standard, introduced last year, clothing must have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of at least 40. This is equivalent to a sun cream with a Skin Protection Factor (SPF) of 40.

The factor is high because protection against the sun's harmful rays will lessen as the clothes are repeatedly washed and stretched in use. Parents are warned that putting ineffective clothing on their children means they could still get burnt.

Trading Standards would like to see clothing manufacturers more mindful of the design of clothes likely to be worn in the sun paying attention to the choice of fibre, colours and density of the weave.

The results of these tests showed that 34 of the items had a UPF below 40. Of these, 19 were below UPF 15, including six below factor 10.

Factor 20

Although the standard only applies to clothing, five beach shelters were also tested. Worryingly, three of these offered protection less than a factor 20 sun cream.

Howard Burnett, Assistant County Community Protection Officer of Somerset Trading Standards said: "While most of the garments tested did not claim any level of protection against the suns rays, we think people need to be aware that simply covering up may not block out the suns harmful rays and prevent sunburn".

The work was welcomed by Dr David Davies, Director of Public Health at Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust. He said: "This underlines the important message that, unless clothing complies with EN 13758, a high factor sun cream should be applied to the skin before covering up with a long sleeved top, trousers and a suitable hat. We need to remember that it can only take minutes to burn a child's skin".

There are a couple of other things to remember to help you have a great holiday in the fine weather:

Avoid excessive physical exertion

If you are taking physical exercise or involved in strenuous activity – particularly if this is something you’re not used to and are taking part in just for your holiday - you need to drink half a litre of fluid at least half an hour beforehand and continue to replenish your fluids after the activity.

Know the perils of outdoor eating

Warm summer weather is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria so it is especially important to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold until you are ready to eat them. When barbecuing always make sure you cook meat until it is piping hot, none of it is pink and all juices run clear.

Be sensible with alcohol

Hot weather speeds up the effects of alcohol so extra care should be taken when drinking. Alcohol will lead to dehydration so make sure that you alternate alcoholic drinks with water or fruit juice.

These precautionary measures will help increase protection from heat exhaustion and sunstroke as well as food poisoning as well as sunburn and sunstroke.

More information available in Destinations, United Kingdom, Africa