How much sun is too much sun?

There’s nothing better than a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot day, but are you aware of the hazards of getting too much sun?

It’s no secret that too much time in the hot sun can cause skin cancer or other harmful side effects in your body, but how do you know when your body has had too much? Experts recommend about 20 minutes of sun without sunscreen. Any time exceeding this should be spent with caution and sunblock. Thereafter, you should look out for any of the tell-tale signs of over exposure to the sun.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat exhaustion can present itself in a number of ways. Weakness, nausea, headaches and dizziness are symptoms experienced by swimmers regularly and should be taken seriously. These signs indicate the loss of water in the body as a result of exertion and swimmers should definitely make their way inside to drink water at this point.

SUNBURN

Sunburn may not just look funny, but no one wants the pain, swelling or blistering that comes along with it. Severe sunburn can even cause a fever, in which case it’s time to get to a doctor. Taking note of sunburn is difficult because the effects of the sun on the skin usually only become noticeable after several hours.

Take care of your skin in the sun because a blistering sunburn significantly increases your chance of getting cancer.

HEAT RASH

Some people experience a red, bumpy rash on their skin while swimming. This can be attributed to the chemical reaction of the chlorine and your skin or it could be heat rash. When this appears, it’s time to get out of the water and into a cool area to allow your body to return to normal temperature.

DEHYDRATION

When you’re feeling tired, fatigued and thirsty or you’re overheating, this can be a sign of dehydration. It occurs more commonly than people realise and is a sign that you should get out of the water and out of the sun, get some water and even some food into your system.

Always try to find a shady spot near the pool or put up an umbrella to relax under. If you’ve had too much sun and you’re experiencing prolonged symptoms of over exposure, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.