The travel that you have been dreaming of for the past 2 years is finally here! You could be going to the north for a white Christmas and engage in winter activities such as skiing, or heading down south for the long sandy beaches. The last thing you want is to get sunburn or post-vacation pigmentations on your face or body.
Here are some useful tips to reduce and prevent pigmentation on holiday:
- Sunblock
Use a sunblock of at least SPF 30 or higher. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunblock every 2 to 3 hours, or every hour if you have been in the water, sweating, or towel drying.
- Oral sunblock
Common mistakes people have when it comes to applying sunblock are:
- not reapplying it every few hours during the day,
- insufficient amount of sunblock applied, and only focusing on the face but neglecting other areas such as ears, neck and body.
Taking oral sunblock (sunblock pills) can help to tackle the above-mentioned limitations. Oral sunblock contains strong antioxidants which protect all skin surfaces that topical sunblock does not cover. It should be taken 30 minutes before sun exposure – one in the morning and one in the mid-day.
- Wearing a wide-brimmed hat helps to shade your face, neck and ears off the sun.
- Consider wearing long-sleeved shirts or long pants to protect the skin of your arms and legs. Choose clothing made of UV-protective materials to provide extra protection.
- Sunglasses with UV protection
The skin around the eyes is delicate and susceptible to UV damage. Excessive UV exposure may also cause cataracts in the long run. Wearing sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption provides protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.
- Try to avoid staying outdoors from 11AM to 3PM when UV is at its peak. You may plan for a long lunch indoor or catch up with indoor shopping during this time.
- I am going to a winter destination or going on a skiing trip. Do I still need sun protection?
The answer is YES. Sun protection of skin and eyes is especially important during ski holidays as UV rays can reflect off the surfaces like ice or snow and reach the eyes from several angles.
The UV rays can also be more harmful at higher altitudes. Apply and reapply sunblock, wear protective clothing and wraparound sunglasses rather than regular sunglasses, especially while in snowy environments.
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