Don’t Forget These 4 Areas When Protecting the Skin from Sun

Even though people are well aware that sunburns can be a terrible thing to deal with, many seem to forget that there are a few areas on the body that burn far easier than others. If you’ve ever had one of these burns, the painful inconvenience is enough to slow you down on even your most motivated days. To help combat this unpleasantness, these tips will help you remember when protecting the skin from sun.

We’ve been having trouble with my youngest child’s very sensitive skin. It’s hard in the winter because it gets so dry, so we are always applying this homemade eczema cream. But once the warm weather rolls around, she’s getting irritated skin from the allergens and redness from the sun. So protecting the skin from sun is my mission every morning to make sure she stays healthy.

Each morning before school we have a 3-step process of applying hydrocortizone cream, then sunscreen, then bugspray! Thank goodness the poor kid just rolls with it and doesn’t put up a fuss.

It’s very stressful trying to make sure she is covered. You need to make sure you don’t forget these 4 areas when protecting the skin from sun. I’m sure very often you just slather it on without thinking. I know I do sometimes.

Ears

The human ear is covered in a very thin layer of skin that is filled with tons of tiny blood vessels. When you spend time in the sun, this thin skin is easily penetrated by harmful UV rays that cause the blood vessels to burst. This can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort in these sensitive organs. If you are prone to burn, you should not only wear sunscreen on your ears, but try to wear a hat if you will be outdoors for long periods of time. This will help to protect them from being cooked in the midday sun.

Armpits

The armpit is one of the most sensitive areas of the body. This sensitive skin area rarely sees direct sunlight, and because of this, is less likely to be equipped to physically handle prolonged exposure to UV radiation. It would be a great idea if you were to place some kind of sunscreen on them when you go out uncovered because a sunburn in the armpits will make for a very painful and uncomfortable night of sleep.

The Tops of Your Feet

When you’re out in the sand, it feels amazing to allow the sand to squish between your toes, but this enjoyment could come with a terrible cost. This sensitive portion of your body spends much of its time locked away in shoes that protect them from the elements. A sudden exposure to heavy amounts of UV radiation could result in a serious burn in you aren’t paying attention. Using sunscreen, and being sure to apply it at least one every 2 hours should help to keep your days returning from work from becoming a foot burning nightmare.

Scalp

Lastly, it’s very important to pay attention to where your hair parts. My dad had a bald spot on his head and if he didn’t use sunscreen on it, it would burn. If you have a prominent part in your hair and you haven’t protected your scalp with a hat or sunscreen, you are likely to get a sunburn. Be sure to always keep you scalp protected, and you can avoid an unpleasant time the following day.

Make sure you follow these guidelines when protecting the skin from sun, otherwise it may all be for nothing. The ears are tough to cover 100%, especially on squirmy kids, but as long as you get some on there it’s better than nothing, right?