AS AN URGENT-CARE PHYSICIAN, I have seen plenty of heat-related illness and summer injuries. Overexposure to the heat and sun is an all-too-common problem during the summer.
When it comes to the basics of sun care, there is plenty of advice floating around like cottonwood fluff, such as hydration, exposure times, and what sunscreen to wear. However, we don’t get reminded about how a few basic and inexpensive precautions prevent a lot of hurt.
When it comes to staying healthy in the sun, start with “KISS”—as in keep it simple!
I will always advocate for good, solid sunscreen. From kids to their great grandparents, sunscreen use is a marvelous way to prevent overexposure.
The problem with sunscreen is that you can miss spots or it can wear off. This is where clothing comes in. If you are facing long, lazy days in the sun, I recommend taking along some basic things to cover up. It might be counterintuitive, but light clothing is essential in the sun. There are solid options for lightweight clothing for both men and women that have UV protection. Even without that extra step, simply wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants can go a long way to preventing sun and wind burn.
Not enough can be said about hats for both men and women. A good, broad-brimmed hat is a perfect way to keep the relentless sun off your face and the back of your neck. For both men and women, perhaps one of the most painful sunburns of all occurs in a part of the hairline. Sunscreen will often not cut it.
We all want to frolic by the pool and dip our toes in the water during lazy summer days. I am all for it. However, when not in the pool or actually in the water, I recommend wearing foot coverings. The advantages are twofold. First, slipping on wet surfaces is a source of injury, and certainly pools are good places for slipping. A wide variety of poolside and boat shoes are slip-on and will work well after your dip in the water.
The second advantage to pool shoes is prevention of cut hazards. Most of us are neat and tidy—but not everyone. Especially on beaches, things can get left behind that may pose a cut hazard to your feet. Nothing spoils a summer day like a trip to urgent care. Protecting your feet from cut and puncture hazards makes good sense. Not only does it prevent an injury, but it may save a vacation as well.
And of course, you should wear sunscreen. No matter how much time you spend in the sun, no matter whether you think you’re a “tanner not a burner,” sunscreen is paramount to good skin health. Many of us do not usually spend that much time in the sun. In addition, if you are heading to the tropics or getting ready to spend time on the water, your exposure level to the sun’s UV rays will be magnified. Even if you work outside, wear sunscreen.
Finally, when you are applying sunscreen make sure you are thorough. Always help kids put on their sunscreen. Make sure you get to easily forgotten places like your face, the back of your neck, your back in general, and the tops of your feet. Reapply often, especially if you’re working hard and perspiring or in and out of the water.
Summer is, for many of us, the definition of fun. However, in our excitement, we can forget the basics and feel the sun in unwanted ways. So, keep it simple! Cover up and lather up. Summer is a marathon that is best enjoyed burn and injury free.
Dr. Steven Bills is the owner of TeleMeMD (www.myteleheathmd), an on-demand urgent-care service. Dr. Bills was born, raised, and educated in Toledo, attending St. John’s Jesuit High School and the University of Toledo and graduating in 1993 from the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Bills completed Emergency Medicine Residency training at the joint St. Vincent/Mercy Medical Center and Toledo Hospital program. Since 1996, Dr. Bills has worked in the Northwest Ohio area in nearby emergency departments and as a flight physician on local area medical transport helicopters. ✲
