During the summer we love having fun in the sun. We all know of the importance of using sunscreen. But sunscreen is not the only protection we need. A day in the sun can be dangerous without the proper sun protection – especially for women fighting breast cancer. Sun safety is important for everyone, but for those women fighting certain conditions like breast cancer, there are some “do’s” and “don’ts” for getting your vitamin D safely.
For July’s UV Awareness Month, I’d love to share with you, “7 Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun,” from the community of Guardian Divas at CureDiva.
7 Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun By: CureDiva Guardian Diva Community
1. Cover up! This doesn’t just mean lathering up your skin with SPF: make sure you keep key areas of your body out of direct sunlight. Especially for those in post-chemotherapy or radiation stage, your skin will be extremely sensitive and keeping yourself covered will avoid sunburn. There are stylish options to stay safe that don’t require hiding out, though! We love wearing stylish hats with wide brims to also cover shoulders, especially our Physician Endorsed hats with SPF, or wearing clothing with UV protection included – UV Skins makes fantastic (and stylish) shirts, pants and bathing suits perfect for the beach.
2. Go organic – Organic is popular in the media right now, but it’s an especially important trend for breast cancer fighters. When heading off to the beach, choose your sunscreen carefully and look at the ingredients. Organic sunscreens are a great option because they don’t contain the toxic ingredients and chemicals that certain mainstream screens have. Some great options are Nurture My Body My Body sunscreen or CV SkinLabs – anything with minimal, all-natural ingredients. They’re specifically tested to be safe for BC fighters and easy to throw into a beach bag!
3. Stay hydrated – water, water, water! This is a rule no matter where you are, but especially important when you’re in the sun. Lack of water can leave you dehydrated, causing faint or complications. Make sure you’re packing water in your beach bag.
4. Stay cool – especially for fighters, your body’s changes can make it difficult for you to withstand heat like you once did. To keep cool, try positioning yourself under an umbrella or packing some cooling products like a fan or these really cool cooling beads. Combined with the nice breeze at the beach, you’ll be set for a fun day!
5. Hydrate the skin, too! Water keeps our bodies hydrated, but we need to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated for optimal health, too! Throw some organic, all-natural lotion in your beach bag and apply on your way home from the beach. The sun’s rays can dry out our skin, and a little hydration once you’re out of the sun will go a long way.
6. Personal preparation is key – there’s no problem seeking some rays a few days after surgery if you’re up for it (one of our guardian divas hit the beach 10 days after her mastectomy!) but make sure you’re waiting until you can handle the rays of the sun and you’re keeping your safety #1. There are great sun sleeves and really cute cover ups (like these from CureDiva) that will help you stay covered while also covering up drains or other areas.
7. Have fun!! Fighting breast cancer is an extremely brave and physically/emotionally draining experience, so once the summer hits, don’t let your diagnosis keep you from summer fun activities you love! It’s very possible to spend a day at the beach if you pack your bag with essentials that will keep you prepared and safe. It’s all about the preparation!
Thanks for the tip.