The arrival of warmer weather usually means spending more time outdoors in the sun. Especially this time of the year around in Myanmar! Aren’t we just eagerly looking forward to the arrival of Thingyan Festival? Fidgeting already since the start of April in order to get out of the house and let our hair down and enjoy! But how to avoid sun? I know it is tricky given that all of us are excited to get out. But it’s really important to protect our skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunlight.
The sun can do much more damage than simply give you painful sunburn. Spots; red, scaly spots, drying and wrinkling; and worst of all, skin cancer! Despite these increasingly well-known dangers of sun exposure, many of us, on occasion, get lazy when it comes to protecting our skin or just can’t resist the myth that getting some colour from the sun makes us look healthier.
But were you aware of the fact that water can reflect up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays, adding to your overall exposure to the sun?! Right, however, the good news is these water activities can be enjoyed safely as long as people take some extra precautions.
Let’s find out how to be safe out there while playing water!
Use Plenty of Sunscreen
Choose a water-resistant sunscreen with a minimum 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor). To ensure that you get the full SPF of a sunscreen, apply 1 ounce 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. It will provide extra protection to the skin underneath, and also you are less likely to end up with sunburn along the edges of your clothes. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the tops of your feet and neck.
Cover up
Protect your head, face and eyes with a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses that filter out 99 to 100 percent of UV radiation. Though wearing shorts and staying sleeveless is tempting while playing water, it is better to cover yourself up with long sleeves and pants.
Seek the Shade
The sun is most intense between 10 AM and 4 PM. So, if you are to spend the entire day playing water or roaming around town, be sure to take periodic “shade breaks” under shady trees or some shady spots.
With a few simple precautions, you can enjoy your Thingyan Festival to the topmost without risking your skin’s health.
Wearing Sun Glasses
Over exposure to ultraviolet light without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of the eye, similar to sunburn on the skin. “Reflected sunlight from water, and artificial lighting a wide-brimmed hat can reduce the amount of UV rays that reach your face and eyes.
Ear Protection
Protecting the ears around water is also important in multiple circumstances. For some people, ear problems affect their ability to enjoy Water Festival with ease more than any other health issues.
But earplugs can solve the problem! Seek for Water Sports Earplugs! It won’t stop you from hearing your surroundings but keep water and air from entering your ears, no matter how hard others splash water at you. You can prevent yourself from ear infections and additional ear complications.
Take the precautions and enjoy your Thingyan Festival!
