Sun bathing strategy

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(Garry Weil) #1

I’m headed to Mexico next Sunday. I’ve heard how important sunlight is to health. Does anyone have a good strategy for getting sunlight and not getting burned? Use some sort of sun screen?

Thanks in advance

#2

I still get burned wearing sunscreen if I am out long enough and don’t reapply. Be careful…my mom who tans easily got second degree sunburn in Mexico.

(Wendy) #3

That’s great! I’ve been thinking about how to not get burned when I go on my visit to Honduras. I’ve heard having enough cholesterol may be protective against sunburn but I still plan to use a good sunscreen and a hat. Especially as I live in the North and have had almost no sun exposure since last summer.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #4

Always let sunscreen sink in before swimming also.
Sea salt is great as it attracts the sunlight onto your skin but be careful as it can act as a magnifier.

  • Love, An Australian
(Laurie) #5

I lived in Mexico; where I lived, it was sunny but inland. Everything was fine until I went to the beach and had a bad reaction, which turned out to be a sun allergy. I protested, “But I wore sunscreen!” and the doctor said that only makes it worse.

Over the years my allergy became less severe. Eventually I was able to take sailing lessons. I didn’t wear a hat during the lessons (because a hat would prevent me from looking up at the sail), but I put coconut oil on my skin, and I was fine! Mind you, this was in Canada.

My advice would be to not go out from, say, 10 am to 3 pm, or even longer. During these hours you should be really away from the sun (e.g., indoors)–not just under a shady tree or umbrella. I once got a sunburn under a shady tree. And when you do go out, wear a hat and coconut oil. You’ll still get plenty of sun benefits.

It would probably also be a good idea to wear sunglasses. My eyes have never been sensitive to sunlight; I think it’s because I have brown eyes. However, I’ve been told that everyone should wear sunglasses now, because of depletion of the ozone layer.

Enjoy your trip.

(Karim Wassef) #6

It’s about prep for me. I use tanning beds to get as sun-adapted as possible before heading out …20mins a day for a couple of weeks … I usually do it for the vitamin D but double down before a trip to Mexico. The more melanin you have, the greater your defense. I also finally accepted that for the first few days, I’ll actually wear a swim t-shirt - it’s like a scuba top but very thin. Let’s in enough UV to get the skin to react but without going overboard.

#7

I’ve heard you have to be in the sun for at least 10 minutes so sun exposure can convert cholesterol into Vitamin D.

(Bob M) #8

If you do not eat PUFAs and keep low carb, you will take longer to burn. I use no sunscreen unless I’m out in the sun for quite a long time and/or the sun is intense (as it likely would be in Mexico). I also use a sun-blocking shirt if I’m out a while and a hat sometimes, preferably with one of those flaps that also covers your neck or a wide brim.

#9

Thanks for the tips. In April I will be driving across west Texas and then into New Mexico and across Arizona – stopping along the way to do some long-distance target shooting in the desert. A lot of bright, dry heat as opposed to my sultry Baton Rouge home – which by the way can burn you just as well but not as quick.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #10

At least you’re going at a time of year when the sun is least brutal in Mexico. If you’re going to be on the beach a lot I would recommend a UV swimming shirt so if it’s getting to be too much you have an easy option. They evaporate sweat too so your shirt won’t be damp all the time if you’re not used to the heat.

I got a zip up hoodie swim shirt that was invaluable to me on recent vacations and while fishing here where I live. I hate putting on sunscreen, but it’s better than it used to be. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Wendy) #11

That’s a neat idea about a hooded swim shirt. I should look for some of those.