Protecting Your Skin From Sun Exposure

A little while ago you might remember we spoke about the importance of protecting our household pets from the sun but what we haven’t mentioned yet is the importance of protecting ourselves from sun exposure.

Living in Perth, Western Australia it can be hard to avoid sun exposure and while we need the sun to help us produce vitamin D and regulate our sleep cycles, in excess it can also be the cause of harm.

As mentioned, a small amount of UV rays is good for us and imperative for our bodies to generate health amounts of vitamin D which in effect helps your body absorb calcium and build and maintain healthy bones.

While you can get vitamin D from the sun and supplements the most common form of absorbing it is exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Sun exposure can also help treat some health conditions including eczema, psoriasis, rickets, or jaundice.

Some of the negative effects however of too much sun exposure might include:

• Changes in your skin. Skin cells and melanin can form a clump which creates freckles and moles. Over time these can developer cancer.
• Early aging. Exposure to the sun can make your skin age faster than normal. You might start to notice more wrinkles, leathery skin, and dark spots.
• Lowered immune system. Excessive sun exposure can put your immune system at risk.
• Eye injuries. UV rays can burn your cornea and blur your vision and over time develop cataracts. If left untreated can cause blindness.
• Skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world and if left untreated can travel to other areas of your body if left untreated.

Growing up in Australia a lot of us grew up with the “slip-slop-slap” sun protection campaign prominent during the 1980s and sunscreen remains one of the most effective ways of mitigating the effects of harmful sun exposure.

Look for a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply every 1 or 2 hours if you’re spending a prolonger period in the sun.

Covering up your body with protective clothing a hat and or some sunglasses can also help minimise the threat of skin damage.

The best protection of course is limiting your exposure to the sun. Where possible stay out of direct sunlight. Try finding a nice shady area to get some reprieve from the sun and can still enjoy the warmth that comes with a summer’s day.

Depending on your profession you might find you spend more time inside experiencing indirect sunlight rather than outside. Therefore, solutions such as sunscreen or covering up might not be as applicable to you.

Solar window film can effectively block up to 99.9% of UV radiation entering your home or office providing an effective protective barrier. High-quality house window tinting can filter up to 82% of the sun’s glare.

Not only will you be protecting yourself from sun exposure, but you will also be protecting your pets. It can also prevent your furnishings and flooring from fading caused by sunlight. It’s also a great way to increase your home’s energy efficiency and better moderate the temperature inside your home or office all year round.

If you’re looking for a solar window film solution unique to your home or office contact the team of professionals at ALLCOOL Window Films today. ALLCOOL have been providing Perth residents and businesses with window tinting for over 35 years and are Solar Gard specialists in Western Australia.

Find out more about what sets our team apart from the rest.