Sun Safety Tips: How to Protect Yourself

During your trip to Hawaii, nothing is as blissful as being outside on a gorgeous, sunny day. While enjoying the spectacular weather in Hawaii, be sure to properly protect yourself – and your loved ones – from the sun, as too many ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause a painful sunburn.

Many visitors to the Hawaiian islands are so busy enjoying themselves – and our beautiful beaches, warm ocean water, and amazing activities – that they may not think about applying (or reapplying) sunscreen! But Hawaii is located near the equator, where sun’s rays are much stronger, and our year-round sunny weather often has people outside for hours at a time. Sunshine can feel wonderful on your skin – but sunburn doesn’t – so be mindful about sun safety while visiting Hawaii!

Is a Sunburn Really that Bad?

Getting a sunburn can be much more than a painful souvenir of your Hawaiian vacation. A bad sunburn may derail your plans for the remainder of your trip – and can cause serious health ramifications.

Being out in the sun exposes your skin to UV radiation, which can not only cause sunburn, but can also result in skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles, and “leathery” skin), eye damage (including cataracts), and skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Therefore, practice sun safety to protect your skin, health, and vacation!

Be Sun Smart: Sun Safety Tips

Protect yourself from the sun with these tips:

Use Sunscreen

This is the most important tip for sun safety! Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, applied 15 minutes before going outside. Broad-spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, two types of the sun’s UV radiation. Apply sunscreen regularly, as directed. Understand that the higher the SPF, the more protection it provides. Also, choose reef safe sunscreen to protect your skin without harming the precious Hawaiian marine life.

Apply Sunscreen Liberally

You may be carefully applying sunscreen to your arms, legs, and face, but don’t forget often-overlooked areas, like the top of your scalp, earlobes, and back of your neck.

Reapply Often

Reapply sunscreen every two hours – or more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating. Adults need at least one ounce of sunscreen – an amount that would fill a shot glass – to properly cover their body.

Wear a Hat

A wide-brimmed hat is an effective way to protect your head, face, and neck from the strong Hawaiian sun – especially if you’ll be outdoors for hours on a long hike, a daylong beach or boat trip, or taking full day sightseeing tours, like Royal Star Hawaii’s Ultimate Pearl Harbor Tour and Grand Circle Island Tour.

Dress Appropriately

Cover up while out in the sun. Consider long-sleeved shirts, long pants, or maxi dresses made from lightweight, breathable materials, which will keep you covered but won’t make you overheat. Also, sun-protective clothing can be invaluable for a day outside. Be aware that a dry t-shirt provides more UV protection than a wet one, and darker colors offer more UV protection than lighter colors. When in or on the water, wear a rash guard or wet suit, which provide more sun protection than a bathing suit alone.

Be Mindful of Timing

The sun is most powerful from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, so if you’re outside during this window, wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing. Stay in the shade during these hours, if possible.

Protect Yourself on Cloudy Days

While it’s usually sunny in Hawaii, don’t let an occasional cloudy day burn you – literally. Up to 80% of UV rays can come through clouds, so apply sunscreen liberally and regularly, even in overcast weather.

Know the Different Rules for Infants

Babies’ skin burns easily, so keep your infant out of the sun as much as possible. Consult your pediatrician before using sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months. If your infant must be outside, dress them in protective clothing – including wide brimmed hats to protect their head, face, and neck – and keep them in the shade.

Wear Sunglasses

Sunlight can damage your eyes, so wear sunglasses with a UV400 rating or 100% UV protection, which blocks more than 99% of UVA and UVB radiation. Wrap-around sunglasses are ideal because they protect the sensitive area around your eyes. Since the sun’s rays reflect off sand and water, if you’re swimming, boating, or doing any activities by the ocean or pool, recognize that these reflections increase your UV exposure.

Check the UV Index

The sun varies in intensity by season, day, time, and geographic location. (Remember that Hawaii is near the equator, so the sun is more intense here.) The UV Index is issued daily by the National Weather Service and EPA, and a higher UV index means that skin will burn more quickly and severely.

Read Medication Warning Labels

Certain medications – including some antibiotics and diuretics – can increase sun sensitivity. Read medication warning labels and stay out of the sun while taking these medicines. Since the sun’s UV rays can penetrate the clouds, use sun protection even on overcast days.

Take Extra Precautions

While anyone is at risk for getting sunburned – or skin cancer – your risks are higher if you have pale skin, or blond, red, or light brown hair.  Also, take extra sun precautions if you or a family member has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

After a day in the sun, drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to rehydrate.

How to Treat a Sunburn

If – despite all precautions – you or a loved one gets sunburned, here are some tips to soothe the skin and lessen the pain:

Bathe

Take a cool (not cold) bath, adding two ounces of baking soda to the tub. Or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin, which helps reduce the pain.

Use Aloe

Apply an aloe vera cream or gel to sunburned areas. (Cool the product in the refrigerator before applying.) Or smooth the liquid center from an aloe vera plant directly onto sunburned skin. Avoid using any topical products containing alcohol.

Take OTC Meds

Over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and oral antihistamines (Benadryl) can help ease the pain and itching. Or rub a gel pain reliever onto sunburned skin. Avoid using petroleum-based products, which can prevent excess heat and sweat from escaping.

Try Hydrocortisone

Treat a painful sunburn by applying 1% hydrocortisone cream three times per day for three days.

Call a Doctor

For severe sunburns – including blistering burns – seek medical attention. Don’t pick or pop blisters, which could cause infection and scarring. See a medical professional if you have a fever, chills, headache, nausea, lethargy, or confusion after getting a sunburn.

Enjoy the Hawaiian sun responsibly. Protect yourself from the sun’s UV rays as you soak up all the activities – and gorgeous weather – that are synonymous with the Hawaiian islands.