Tips to Protect Yourself from the Sun When on Your Adventure Travel

It's that time of the year, the snow begins to melt, the days become longer and hotter. For anyone living in the Northwest, its an adventure enthusiasts time to play. If your lucky enough to live somewhere with warm temperatures year round, everyday is play time. Regardless of where you live, there's a common threat that affects all of us who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, and thats the sun. Melanoma is one of the fastest growing forms of skin cancer which effects everyone from young to old. Individuals more at risk are people who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. The next time you head out for an adventure in the sun, here are a few tips to help protect yourself from a sunburn.

1) Wear Sunscreen

When going out for the day whether its for a hike, bike or other adventure, make sure to take a good supply of sunscreen to last the day. There are many different types of sunscreens out there but if your outside for a prolonged period of time, make sure to go with a minimum of SPF 15. An SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 means that it would take fifteen times longer for the skin to burn without using sunscreen. If your not a fan of the sunscreens that are thick and feel uncomfortable on the skin, purchase a sunscreen that is recommended  by a Dermatologist. Most often these sunscreens double as a moisturizer and don't irritate the skin. 

2) Wear UV Protectant Clothing

More and more clothing companies are incorporating UV protectant fabrics into their products. UV rays are still able to reach the skin through clothing made of cotton and polyester fabrics. It's a common misconception that just because someone has a shirt on, that their protected. When outdoors, purchase a running jersey, biking jersey or any other form of shirt that has some UV protection. It is also important to protect your head so choose a hat that blocks out the rays. When choosing a hat, make sure that it is made with densely woven fabrics.

3) Choose Your Time Outdoors

This is probably the hardest thing to do but if you can, make sure to limit your time outdoors between 11 am to 3 pm. Depending on where you are, this is when the sun is at its strongest. Most likely for anyone who loves an outdoor lifestyle, this is just not possible so make sure to follow the first two tips when going out for the day.

Even though it is important to protect yourself from UV damage, it is healthy for the body to get a little sun just make sure its in moderation. The skin can burn in just 10 to 15 minutes of exposure. So the next time your heading out on your outdoor adventure, protect yourself from the sun. Go have fun and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. 

Happy Travels,

BikeHike Adventures