Saturday, July 25, 2009

Don’t let the sun burn and the bugs bite!


By guest blogger - Cassandra Lobo
The summer season is arguably the most relaxing and enjoyed seasons of them all. The summer season brings with it a handful of outdoor picnics, sun bathing at the beach, and family camping trips. Although summer time is when the living is easy, there are some precautions one should take before stepping outdoors. Anyone who knows me or even simply just read my Ninja Sun Hat blog, know that I am an avid sun worshiper. Extremely bad and dangerous addiction … I know, I know! No need to preach to this choir! Although a golden tan may look appealing, the actuality of what a sun tan is is far from attractive. When skin is exposed to the sun, it protects it’s self from the harmful ultraviolet rays by creating a brown-colored pigment called melanin. This process is extremely dangerous and harmful to your skin.


Sun burn is also commonly taken for a common, unimportant issue. Truth be told, it is extremely serious and should not be taken lightly. Sun burn is simply a burn from the powerful UV rays. The outer layer of skin on your body, called the epidermis, contains dead cells. But just below the dead cells is a layer of living cells. By sitting in the sun, you expose yourself to ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light has the ability to kill cells. When Ultraviolet light hits the layer of living cells in the epidermis it damages and kills. The body’s reaction to repair the dead cells is to increase the blood flow in the affected area. It opens up capillary walls allowing white blood cells to enter and remove the damaged cells. The increased blood flow makes your skin warm and red, also known as “sunburn”.





Before heading outdoors, don’t forget to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of atleast 20! If sunburn does get the best of you, here are some very useful tips that can help soothe any burn:


-Hydrate, Hydrate,HYDRATE! .. A great, refreshing drink to enjoy while the sunburn is not so pleasant is: equal parts of pineapple and black cherry juice. The pineapple juice contains an ingredient, called bromelain, which is a substance helpful for reducing inflammation. The black cherry juice contains an antioxidant, called anthocyanins, which helps the body relieve inflammation. Drink two or three cups daily to allow the burn to cool


-Apply a thin layer of plain yogurt on to the burn. The yogurt must contain live cultures. This will help cool the
burn.

Summer’s unwelcomed guests can also be another picnic ruiner. During the summer months, bug spray is a necessity and should always be applied when outdoors. Fleas, ticks, and bees are be quite pesky during these months. It is humans versus bugs and, unfortunately, most of the time we are not the winners. Here are some quick anti-itch remedies for when the bug wins the battle:

- Apply honey to a bug bite to bring relief and prevent infections. Honey has long been known for its antibiotic purposes.

- Be as cool as a cucumber. Place cucumber skins on top of the bites to soothe the itching irritation. You can also cut round slices from a fresh eggplant and place on top of the bite to draw out toxins and appease irritation.

- Apply tea tree oil to bites every 2 to 3 hours to relieve itching and aid healing. Tea tree oil possesses antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial actions and has been recognized by recent studies as playing a supportive role in skin care.

- For flea bites, soaking in a warm bath of Epsom salts and baking soda can ease itching.


If your summer includes relaxing on the beach, canoeing down the river, or just playing in your local park, make sure to pack some summer necessities. A well–planned survival kit, such as the Altoid Survival Tin mentioned in “Born to Explore, can ensure that you have a fun and healthy outdoor experience!

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