Protect yourself in the heat...

Hey there Beauts!

So...one day of sun and I'm writing a heat post but apparently it's going to last! So I thought why not subtly remind you all to enjoy the heat responsibly! :D hehe Yup that is the nurse in me talking!

I remember being on placement in the Critical Care Unit during a heat wave last year and the Doctors subtly reminding us to keep well hydrated and drink plenty of water and his advice just stuck with me so I'm here to offer my knowledge and wisdom on how to stay safe in the heat! :D

• First of all, Sun protection! we all want to strip off and BBQ ourselves the second it gets warmer than fridge temperature, and some even claim that the sun lifts their mood and makes them happier but remember the sun's UV rays overtime break down our skin's defences, and damages the Elastin in our skin causing it to sag, wrinkle and much more susceptible to bruising and tearing.  In other words WRINKLES AND SUN SPOTS! And they're not a good look ladies, let's be honest!

• Sun damage from UV rays is also the biggest cause of Skin Cancer.  Safety first! I've been on Cancer wards and helped care for patients suffering with Cancer and it's heart breaking to see them go from happy healthy 'normal' people and then slowly disappear to nothing and the one they would always say is...'If only I could turn back time...I would never have started smoking/I would never have drunk so much/ I would have covered up in the sun and protected my skin' Luckily for us it's not too late.

• Protect your skin with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF).  Obviously the higher the number the better but even an SPF of 15 filters 92% of harmful UVB rays.  Try and find one that protects against UVA and UVB rays.  What is the difference? UVA rays are longer rays which penetrate the skin's layers deeper and are just as harmful as UVB rays which don't penetrate as deeply however it's the damage from UVB rays that we see because they only penetrate the top layers on the skin.

• Don't forget your eyes, ears, lips and nose need protection from UV rays too so pop some shades on, and apply sunscreen to your ears, nose and lips too. Plan to apply your sun lotion 15-20 minutes before being exposed to the sun to give it some time to sink in and to get the full benefits and don't forget to re-apply every 2-3 hours.

• Keep well hydrated!! The human body can be in need of hydration well before we even know it and often, feeling thirsty means we're already dehydrated.  The heat causes us to perspire (you may want to keep some deodorant handy too!) much more which means hydration and salts from our body are being lost.  Keep a bottle of water or an energy drink with you in your handbag (c'mon ladies if we can carry around fashion mags and 5 lippies we can manage a bottle of water) and don't just carry it, keep it in your hand so you're more likely to take regular sips.  Avoid excessive Alcohol and caffeine as these will only dehydrate you even more.

• Take regular breaks from the sun, there's only so much sun lotion can do and if you're out in the sun from noon - night you're risking your skin and much more susceptible to heat exhaustion.

On a final note if you feel over exhausted from excessive excercising in the sun and not enough water be sure to seek some shade, drink plenty of water and let somebody know because you may be suffering from heat stroke.  And as with anything if you're concerned about your health seek professional advice (Go and see your GP or local walk-in clinic or if you're very worried, your local Accident and Emergency department)

Most of all, enjoy it and stay sun safe!Until Next Time Beauts

Ciao for now World

xoxox