How to avoid a sunburn

Sunburn can cause more problems than just some temporary pain and redness. Over time, frequent sunburn can contribute to premature aging of the skin, and can even lead to deadly skin cancer.

By following the simple steps below, you can have fun in the sun and still protect yourself and your family from sunburn and keep your skin healthy and young looking.

The sun’s rays in Hawaii are one of the strongest in the world. Don’t ruin your vacation by getting a bad sunburn.

Here are our tips on how to avoid a sunburn.

• Stay out of the sun completely. That’s not easy to do in Hawaii!
• Limit outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Play golf, lay in the sun, swim, etc., in the early morning or late afternoon.
• If you must sunbathe get some sun before you visit Hawaii. The Hawaiian sun is very dangerous to pale skin.
• Beware of cloudy days. Clouds and particulate matter in the air scatter sunlight. You can still burn even on a cloudy day.
• Wear a good pair of sun glasses and some kind of protection — the looser the better — on your head.
• If you are among those likely to burn, use a sun block with a SPF of 15 or greater. An ounce of sun block will effectively cover your entire body.
• Apply sun block at least 15 to 30 minutes before venturing out into the sun and re-apply at least every two hours especially if you have been swimming or perspiring.
• Use sun blocks with higher PFs on areas that need extra protection like the tip of your nose, your ears, the tops of your feet, and your shoulders.
• Do not use sun block on your lips. Instead, use only sun protection products designed specifically for lips.
• Protect your children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.
• Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents with children under 6 months of age should severely limit their children’s sun exposure.