Travel Tips for Sun Safety

Travelers might take into consideration health and other safety tips when traveling, but how about consideration for sun safety? Having a vacation ruined due to a painful burn or returning home with an unwanted souvenir can be prevented. Following are some travel tips for sun safety by Dr. Eric Siegel, MD, The Millburn Laser Center along with some product recommendations:

1. Frequency: Re-application of sun screen is the key to effectiveness.  When active in the sun, reapply every two hours.
2. Higher is Better: Use a sun screen above 15, and it must cover both spectrums: UVA and UBA. Note: Travel-Advocate has reviewed numerous sunscreen products and will present a separate article on different options.
3. Timing: Apply sun screen 10-15 minutes before going outdoors for best protection.
4. Forgotten Areas: When applying sun screen, do not forget lips and ears (often left uncovered by baseball hats) as these are common areas for skin cancer to occur.
5. Avoid Peak Hours: If possible, schedule outdoor activities before and after peak hours of the sun, which are from 10 am-4 pm. For example, consider a schedule around the sun: an early morning golf tee time or tennis game, a midday indoor lunch/siesta, and a late afternoon swim after 4 pm.
6. Be Aware of other Products: Check all medications and products that you are using to see if they increase your sensitivity to the sun. For example, Retinoids, antibiotics and high blood pressure medications, are among medications that cause photosensitivity.
7. Start at the Top: Wide brim hats and sun glasses will help protect your face and eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, as well as keep you feeling cooler in the heat. Note: Travel-Advocate has reviewed different products in this category and two hats with style and protection to boot include Soleil Chic’s UV hat and the Tilley Hat product line, which is certified UPF 50+. Both block both UVA and UVB rays and travel well in terms of packing and durability.
8. Beyond the Skin: Check out the great options in sun protective clothing, which are widely available online, including long sleeve swim tops and other sun protective clothing and hats. Note: Travel-Advocate has reviewed numerous sun protection clothing lines and its favorite is Sun Safe Designer Clothing. This colorful and stylish line is complete with clothing and protective products that are feminine and do not leave you feeling that you should be fishing with the guys or in the Outback! The garments are flexible in terms of how much you want to cover and the fabric feels good when wearing.
9. Body Check: When you are in beach attire, take the opportunity to give yourself, and family members, a body check.  If you notice that moles or spots have changed in color or appearance, or look unusual, consult your dermatologist.
10. Keep in on in the Water: When swimming, be sure to select a waterproof sun screen.

For those travelers who have already have skin damage due to sun exposure, Dr. Siegel says, “Always take precautions in the sun, but new treatments and therapies can reverse some damage. Laser treatments, such as the Rhytec Portrait PSR3, which stimulates remodeling of the skin’s architecture, replace damaged collagen with significant amounts of new collagen.”

Adults with sun damage should also try Antioxidant Therapies (green teas, Vitamin C), and an aggressive use of Retinoid topicals, he adds. “This can diminish fine lines and wrinkles and can also eliminate pre-cancerous growths on the skin.”

However, Dr. Siegel cautions that laser treatments and therapies may reverse some sun damage, but can also increase sensitivity to the sun.

As a reminder to the importance to protect skin from damaging sun rays, SpaFinder released photosensitive “I Will Reflect” wristbands that change color when exposed to harmful UVA & UVB rays. These comfortable bracelets with meaning retail for $4.99 at SpaFinder.

“Between the stylish design and the cool color shift, these wristbands are buzzworthy on their own merits,” said  Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder, Inc. “We designed them to be a perfect jumping-off point for a conversation not only about limiting sun exposure, but also getting the regular check-ups that could lead to life-saving early detection.”

Dr. Karl Guber, the creator of LUCA sunscreen, is a practicing surgical pathologist who continues to see younger and younger patients with melanoma. UVA rays are the rays that cause cancer and premature aging and currently, sunscreens do not have to label the level of UVA protection, according to a LUCA spokesperson. Dr. Gruber is working diligently to change these labeling laws because most people mistakenly apply sunscreen believing they are protected and while they may not burn, they can still be causing serious damage.

In addition to Dr. Siegel’s tips for ensuring travelers are protected from the sun, many consumers are unaware of the damage UV rays have on the eyes. A spokesperson for Transitions (allowing wearers to carry one pair of glasses offering both prescription and sunglasses in one) presents the following statistics:

• 80% of consumers are aware that UV exposure can cause skin cancer, but only 5 % know that UV exposure can harm the eyes
• 14% of female and 22% of male respondents reported they never wear protective UV glasses
• Wearing 100% UV-blocking eyewear can help reduce the risk of sight-threatening diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration

Note: Travel-Advocate took a look at a few eyewear products and one non-prescription sunglass product line that has a variety of styles and are easy to wear is the Quattro polarized performance sunwear line. These glasses protect the eyes from damaging UV rays are have no glare for a retail price of $49.95.

Wherever your travels take you, do not forget to pack the protection (sunscreen, hats, clothing) to ensure a vacation is enjoyed and no permanent damage results as an unwanted memory.

Photo Credit: Sun Safe Designer Clothing and LUCA