Free Advice Tuesday - Surviving Summer edition

Since we seem to have skipped Spring and gone into Summer, there isn't a whole lot of transition time to get right into Summer mode....and I got reminded, this past weekend, of a few things that I seem to forget and go through almost every year during this transition. In that regard, I thought I would share these things with you.  Things we all know but sometimes overlook or forget.

1. Sunblock and preventing sunburn

This is a no-brainer from the "do" stand-point.  However, some other things to remember are these:

- Be prepared when you going to be outside, going to the beach, going to the park, etc.  Keep a bottle in your beach bag or sport bag.

- Check expiry dates on bottles in your cupboard and buy fresh stuff when needed.  Trust me when I say that you don't want to be a cheapskate with respect to the effectiveness of your sunblock....the risks are too high.  The expiry date is on the bottle for a reason and you don't want to be playing "beat the clock" with the UV rays and your skin.

- Apply sunblock before going outside.....and in some cases, when you can, apply before you get dressed.  This way you will spend more time putting it on right so you don't end up missing spots and burning in wierd places.  Doing your "first coat" before you go out also ensures that you do get it on yourself and don't forget or put off doing it once you get where you are going.

- Remember odd places on your body like your ears, your ankles, tops of your feet, back of your hands, etc.  You don't want to be reminded of these places by getting a sunburn there especially since these are sensitive areas.

- Faces are incredibly important to remember to put sunblock onto.  Most women's daily facial moisturizers have sunblock in them, which is really good for backup and every day protection.  If you can, get a sunblock specifically for the face and which has a high SPF and has some zinc in it.  Our faces need more protection than our bodies.  If you don't want to age prematurely, then always remember your face......every day whether its sunny or not.

- If you are outside for long periods, reapply sunblock often...depending on your activity.  If you are doing sports (and sweating) or in the water, reapply at least every 60 minutes.  It's a pain to do...but a sunburn is more painful.  I have a sport spray sunblock to use in a pinch when I may not have time to spend with lotion. (the spray is also cooling)  Just get yourself into a habit and then it won't bother you that much and it will become just routine.

- Drink LOTS of water!  The sun is sucking the hydration out of skin so you must keep adding hydration back. Hydration helps your skin protect itself.  Dryer skin is more likely to burn. (* If you are picky about water, then check this stuff out.  If you want to know more, then just PM me!)

2. Aloe and treating sunburn

- Aloe gel or aloe straight from the plant is what everyone should put on their skin straight away after being outside for long periods in the sun.  You may not be burned but you skin has received damage whether its visible or not.  Aloe is soothing to the skin and has healing properties.  If you are burned or suspect you are, then slap copious amounts of that stuff on your skin....and do it often.

- If you have a sunburn that is painful, in addition to aloe, try cool compresses to take the heat out of your skin.  The sun literally cooks the proteins in your skin and that is where the latent heat in your skin comes from.  Some people believe that putting cool compresses with skim milk on the skin will help as the milk puts a protective protein film on your skin. ( I haven't tried the milk thing but have heard it works)

- If you need to, take ibuprofen or acetaminaphene to help with the pain

- Drink LOTS of water!  Sunburn is a sign of dehydration and your body is needing to be hydrated just like a plant that has wilted in the sun.  If you are feeling tired, that is a sure sign of dehydration. (* If you are picky about water, then check this stuff out.  If you want to know more, then just PM me!)

- Take some antioxidants like vitamin C.  Sun damage causes many free radicals to be formed and they can do mucho damage to your cells.  Taking extra antioxidants helps curtail these little bandits and their nefarious plans! :)

3. Preventing blisters (on your feet)

Blisters can happen any time of the year, but summer is, IMO, a time when I know I get more blisters than any other time of the year.  I think its because we are wearing flip flops and sandals in hot weather...and we are out walking and hiking more often.  And if you are female, its time to wear all our cute shoes which we don't wear much any other time...so our feet aren't used to them.

- If you are going to be wearing shoes with no socks or stockings, then keep your feet well lotioned.  It's the dried out foot that seems to get more blisters.  A good warning sign is if the bottoms of your feet are feeling "scorched" while wearing shoes.  If you are feeling this, then its a good chance some blisters are forming or about to be formed.

- If you are wearing cute new shoes then be realistic and carry an extra set with you, JIC.  I often carry a small pair of ballarina flats to save my feet when my new shoes start to hurt.  This is also prudent with those cute shoes you don't wear very much.  Don't let your vanity over-ride your self preservation....as there is nothing pretty or cute about blisters!

- When hiking, make sure you wear proper socks that are NOT cotton.  Cotton rubs and moves too much which causes blisters.  There are lots of great socks out there that are more suited to hiking and to not causing blisters.

- Wear new hikers or running shoes around your house for a while to break them in before taking them on long walks/runs.  This way your feet gets used to them and your also get an idea where/if they rub. 

4. Treating blisters (on your feet)

I used to think that once you got blisters on you feet, you were in for a week from hell as you waited for those things to heal up.  I used to think that until last year when I got some really BAD blisters one night and Shush gave me her advice for treating blisters.  I tried her remedy and it worked like AMAZING....and it's now my fail-safe remedy for blisters that can get you up and going in no time.  

Shush's remedy is easy.  You must soak your feet in really salty water with a whole bunch of baking soda.  That's it.....BUT, in my experience, it's best to start out with hot water and then let your feet soak as long as possible.  And when I say long, I mean like several hours.  I tried for an hour on the weekend and it didn't quite do the trick.  The next day I did it for 2 hours and it did the trick.  All I do is put the tub of water under my desk (on a towel) and I sit at the computer and work for the several hours with my feet happily soaking away.

With this remedy, you won't see results straight out of the water.  Wait overnight or a few hours (after soaking) and you will notice that your blisters have dried right up.  And if you are doing this in the evening, then after soaking put a whole lot of lotion on your feet with thick socks and go to sleep like that.  You will wake up with nicely lotioned feet that have no blisters! woot!!

And if you are wondering, I have done this with the NASTIEST of blisters and it works fabulous!

Be safe out there everyone....and enjoy the fabulous weather! :p