How to Practice Sun Safety

"Sun Safety" was last updated on March 21, 2011

It's obvious that many travelers who go to Asia, will face the sun and the heat! Your skin will get loads of D-vitamins and you get a beautiful tan!

In this article you'll find:



But... you still need sun protection and take basic precautions, because heat can cause fatal consequences (like sunstroke or skin cancer).

Or you can get sunburned which is unnecessary and painful.

I remember that I got sunburned on my back when I went snorkeling in Ko Phi Phi. I couldn't lean against a chair for a whole week...! I should also mention that I have light dark skin, so you can just imagine what the sun will do to fair skin.

So, this article is about the basic sun safety advice and sunscreen tips.

But have in mind that these tips are not based on any medical professional advice.


How much sun you can take is based on several factors:

Personal variables (genes, allergies, diseases)

The weather temperature

Your skin type

Your skin type depends on your genes. To me, it`s obvious that a backpacker with pale skin needs to be more careful than a person with olive or dark skin. But whatever skin type you have, you still have to go easy on the sun!

I`ve created a table and it gives indications of which SPF you should use.

There are 6 skin types:


Skin Types:

    Type 1: Pale white skin, Blonde/red hair, Light eyes. You easily get sunburned and never tan. Use at least 30 + SPF.

    Type 2: Fair skin, Blonde/Light brown hair, Light eyes. You rarely tan and almost always burn. Use at least 30 + SPF

    Type 3: Olive/dark white skin, Dark hair, medium/dark eyes. You sometimes tan and burn. Wear at least 15 SPF.

    Type 4: Light brown skin, Dark hair, dark eyes. You tan easily and less likely to burn your skin. You can use 15 + SPF.

    Type 5:Brown skin, Dark/black hair, dark eyes. You tan easily and rarely burn. Use 15 + SPF.

    Type 6: Dark brown skin, Black hair and dark eyes. You never get burned and always tan. But you can still get skin cancer. Use 15 + SPF

Sun Safety Tips

The obvious part: ALWAYS drink loads of water!

What should I look for when buying sun lotion?

Your sun screen should protect you from UVA- and UVB rays. It's usually written on the bottle if it provides this protection. Check if it has been tampered with, and check the expiry date!

Another obvious part: Use sun-lotion!

Recommended sun lotions: Piz Buin sun cream, Lancaster sun lotion and my absolute favorite Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen.

The most sensitive areas are the tip of your nose, ears, feet, shoulders and back. If the lotion comes in contact with your eyes, wash it right away!

And don't use regular sun lotion on your lips, instead use a product that is designed to protect lips (I bought a Piz Buin sun stick for my lips which works great).

After you've gone swimming or sweating, re-apply!

And before you go snorkeling, apply extra sun lotion to your neck, shoulders and back.

And if you know that you`re sensitive to sun rays, you might even consider wearing a t-shirt while snorkelling. My back got sunburned twice while I was snorkelling in Koh Chang, and I have light brown skin. Imagine what the sun rays might do to pale skin.. And sunburn hurts!

If you have a tattoo(s), you should apply an extra amount of lotion. This will prevent the tattoo from cracking, and prevent the colors from fading.

Even if it`s a cloudy weather or the wind blows, the sun rays can still penetrate your skin. So, apply sunscreen!

If you want to exercise in the heat: remember the basics - water and sun-lotion! By moving, like playing beach volleyball or alike, will likely even your tan.

Time

You should avoid the hottest time of the day: 10 am - 3/4 pm.

Go easy the first week.

Don`t spend like 8 hours straight on the beach. Then you can gradually increase the hours.

If you`re on the beach, take regular breaks from the sun.

Food

When you sweat, you lose salt.

So, add a little salt to your food or fruit smoothies. Salt is important because it helps maintaining the fluid balance in your body. And this is particularly relevant in hot climate!

Other Ways to Practice Sun Safety




sun safety backpacking tips asia.com
Use light, loose-fitting clothes.

Dark colors absorb heat. Loose clothing avoid marks after sweaty armpits, and feels much more comfortable than tight clothing.

Use a sarong, hat/caps to cover your head if you feel it`s needed.

To protect your eyes, use sun glasses (and caps/hat).

When it comes to make-up, use cosmetics that have sun protection.

One thing that has bothered me is clogged pores after I`ve been tanning. So I suggest you try to find mineral make-up. It works great on humid weather. Or you can just drop the make-up!

When you bring a bottled water to the beach, place it under a towel or a clothing so it won`t get too warm. When it comes to your MP3 or mobile, do the same thing.

Even if your travelling companion can handle the rough sun while getting a tan on the beach, it doesn`t necessarily mean that you can!

It`s not fair to watch your friend become darker, while you just stay "white". But you still need to remind yourself that people are just�different...

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What if I get sunburned?

If you get a mild sunburn (the area is usually deep pink and feels like burning), apply Aloe Vera. Your goal is to soothe it.

If you have blisters in the sunburnt area and fever, you should go to a local doctor! In the mean time, take some aspirins. And don`t scratch it even though it itches like h***!

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Something to think about...

You`ll probably notice that it`s popular to have white skin in Asia. There are huge posters of local celebrities and models around the big cities that advertise for white skin, like Bangkok. And the majority of skin products you find there are aimed at whitening, for men and women. It seems like white skin is a sign of a certain social status.

So, I feel it`s kind of ironic that travellers go to Asia to get a tan, while the locals seem to like the white skin.

Ever thought about that?

I want to reflect some thoughts when it comes to this: I got to know some locals on Koh Chang and Bangkok, and I experienced getting comments because of my skin.

A real example: "Why you so brown? You`re Asian. You should be white�Brown dirty." What I reacted to was: "Dirty..???"

I didn`t take it personally and laughed most of the time, but I have to admit that I did question their view of beauty once or twice.

But that`s a perfectly normal reaction: I was raised in a Western world where tanning is in, and not out. Tanned skin is often associated with healthiness because it gives you that glow. So, if we were born in Thailand, maybe we would share their view of pale skin� Who knows..?

Where do you want to go next?

Back to Travel Health? (Backpacking Tips 2)

Wondering what vaccines you need?

Worried about the food or water in Asia? (Backpacking Health)

Prevent mosquito bites? Get mosquito advice here!

How do you ease the jet lag?

Mental preparation: A culture shock guide

How to get past homesickness

Cheap backpackers travel insurance

Return from Sun Safety to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.

St. Tropez

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