Cindy's Health Tips:
Sunburn
Health Tip #4, 19 September 1996
How can I prevent from getting sunburn?
Aside from avoiding direct contact with the sun, there are some other steps you can take to avoid sunburn:
Avoid the sun from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Wear muted colors such as tan or beige. Do NOT wear bright colors or white which easily reflect the sunlight off your clothes and onto your face.
Use sun-block before participating in an outdoors activity (such as watching a football game)
What are some treatments if I do get sunburn?
Pat burned areas lightly with cold towel
Treat burned areas with cold oatmeal baths
Pain-relieving medication such as acetaminophen helps ease the pain
Is there anything I should NOT do to help treat my sunburn?
Do not apply Vaseline the first day because, though it may feel better, it retains the heat in your body.
Avoid products containing benzocaine
What kind of sun block is best for me?
If your eye color is blue, green, gray or hazel and your hair color is blond, light brown, or red and your complexion is very fair you are likely to burn and would probably need an SPF ranging from 15-29.
If your eye color is dark blue, gray or hazel and your hair color is brown and your complexion is fair you may burn and would probably need an SPF ranging from 8-15.
If your eye color is brown and your hair color is dark brown, or black and your complexion is olive skin or black skin you are likely to tan and would probably need an SPF ranging from 4-15.
Health Tip written by Cindy Suen
Resources for Health Tip:
The College Student's Health Guide — Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness, and Surgery
Take Care of Yourself, by Vickery and Fries
Healthwise Handbook, 10th Edition
FREEBORN HALL
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University of California at Berkeley
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