Contents
When the air temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius, and the sun is not covered by even the smallest cloud, leaving the house without proper clothes is a huge risk. Appropriate clothing and a cream with a UV filter are essential, but there is something else that we keep forgetting about. This is a headgear, the wrong choice of which may end up, among others, in sunstroke.
- On a hot, sunny day, we are exposed to a sunstroke, i.e. overheating of the tissues of the head – skin, but also the central nervous system
- If we do not cover our face and neck well, we may also be exposed to sunburn
- Whatever headgear is better than no headgear, but the right type will provide better protection
- Experts advise against scarves, turbans, and popular baseball caps in favor of wide-brimmed hats
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Why is a hat on a hot day so important?
High temperature and UV rays are a challenge for our body. The first has a direct impact on the thermoregulation mechanism, which must “shift” to the highest speed in extreme weather conditions. It has to do with with intense sweating, loss of water and electrolytes, i.e. substances responsible for the body’s water management and, among others, conduction of nerve impulses necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Ultraviolet rays, in turn, are very dangerous to our skin – exposure to them (without appropriate protection in the form of even appropriate clothing or creams with a UV filter) is one of the most common causes of skin cancer, it also increases the risk of other oncological diseases.
Strong sunlight is also very dangerous for our brain. Dr. Olga Milczarek, a neurologist from SCM Clinic in Krakow, said in an interview with Medonet that in the event of overheating, he begins to “boil”.
– The temperature of the tissues, i.e. the skin, meninges and the brain cells themselves, increases so much that they begin to boil and are no longer able to regulate the body temperature, and thus protect deep tissues from further overheating. (…) Of course, the skin or the subcutaneous tissue can be much hotter. However, for a brain, which is thermally sensitive, exceeding 39,9 degrees Celsius can mean death.
If, despite the use of various types of protection, sunburn occurs, use Sofargen spray for wounds and burns, which you can buy at Medonet Market at a promotional price.
The rest of the text below the video.
What to wear on your head to (o) protect yourself from the sun?
When it comes to protecting your head from the negative effects of sunlight, experts agree: any headgear is better than none. However, not all of them will protect in the same way. Some may even expose us to the consequences of excessive sun exposure, such as sunburn.
For this type of skin irritation, we recommend Mediskin Baby Diaper Cream for children with diaper rash, which is also great for burns or even frostbites.
According to Dr. Milczarek a simple “baseball cap” is not enough. Although it covers the eyes and part of the face, it reveals the entire neck. Meanwhile, this part of the body is very important from the point of view of thermoregulation.
– Remember – the head and neck are the places where thermoregulation is most effective, where the blood flow is greater. For example, when someone has a fever or is overheated, cold compresses are applied not only to the forehead, but also to the neck – he explains, adding that “a hat with a larger brim would be much better (…), which will also perfectly cover face. A fishing hat will also be good.
In the case of a hat even details such as the width of the roundabout matter. It turns out that the best one is the one with a minimum size of 7,5 cm. Such a hat covers a large part of the face, providing skin protection that corresponds to the UV filters contained in protective creams. For example: it protects the nose like a cream with SPF 7, the neck like SPF 5, the cheeks like SPF 4, and the chin like SPF 2.
What is better to give up? Considering the above tips a scarf or a turban will not provide sufficient protectionwhich not only do not cover the neck and nape, but also do not have visors, protecting the nose, cheeks, chin, and most importantly – the eyes.
- In the case of burns, it is worth using Sea buckthorn oil for burns, frostbite, atopy and dry skin, which you can buy on Medonet Market at a promotional price.
Regardless of the type of headgear you choose, you should also remember that it should be made of natural, airy material, and also have small holes for ventilation, so that you will avoid abrasions to the skin.
When going out in the sun, remember about proper UV protection, applying a protective cream and having panthenol at hand, which is helpful in case of sunburn. You can find a cream with a UV filter and a foam with soothing substances at Medonet Market.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time our guest is Marek Rybiec – businessman, as one of 78 people from all over the world, he completed «4 Deserts» – ultramarathon taking place in extreme places around the world. She talks to Aleksandra Brzozowska about the challenge, mental strength and mindfulness training. Listen!