With the well-established link between skin cancer and premature skin aging, most people take precautions to avoid harmful sun exposure.
Not only is UV light harmful in the long term, the short-term effects of too much sun can ruin your holiday.
Who is at risk from sunburn?
Everyone who goes out in the sun is at risk from sunburn, including people who are working outside and people who are doing outdoor activities. Sunburn affects everyone, but people with very fair skin, fair hair or red hair may be more susceptible.
Note that some medications and skin preparations can make you more susceptible to sunburn. These include common antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Ask your pharmacist or the prescribing healthcare professional for advice if you are concerned that your meds are making you more sensitive than usual to the sun.
How can I protect myself from sunburn while traveling?
To avoid sun damage to your skin, use a sunscreen and wear clothing with good coverage. Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses will also protect you from the sun.
Which sunscreen is best?
Ask your local pharmacist which sunscreen is best. Experts recommend using plenty of sunscreen. You’ll need to reapply it after swimming or if you have sweated heavily.
Be aware that sunscreen expires. Check the dates on bottles you’ve got stored in your bathroom cupboard.
What should I do if I get sunburn while traveling
Sunburn is not always apparent while it’s happening. Symptoms of sun damage become obvious a few hours afterward. It causes painful skin, as well as other symptoms like fatigue and nausea. Use pain relief meds, take cool showers and drink plenty of fluid if you are suffering from the effects of sunburn.
Watch out for infection and signs of fever or confusion – if these occur, seek medical advice.
Where can I get reliable information about staying safe in the sun?
When you attend your appointment at our travel health clinic, you can ask any questions you may have about sun safety for travelers. Our advisers have the most up-to-date information to keep you safe on your trip abroad.
We have a travel health advice page about sun safety.
To find out more about safer sun exposure, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s Sun Exposure page.
Where can I get travel health advice before my trip abroad?
At our travel clinic in California, and our other branches, we can advise travelers on sun safety ahead of their trip abroad.
At Global Travel Clinics, we provide a full range of travel vaccines to ensure you are well protected against travel health conditions such as hepatitis and malaria.
We can offer catch-up shots for the usual scheduled vaccines like tetanus, diphtheria and polio, as well as measles, mumps and rubella.
And we can help with anti-malarial drugs and advice on avoiding mosquito bites if you’re going to an area where malaria is endemic.
Making an appointment for travel health vaccines
Book your travel health appointment six to eight weeks before departure. This is because some common travel vaccines are given in multiple spaced doses.
By making a travel health appointment well ahead of your trip abroad, you’ll have time to get all the vaccine doses you need to ensure full protection.
Use our clinics page to find your nearest branch of Global Travel Clinics and make an appointment with one of our travel health advisers. We have plenty of travel advice appointments, as well as slots at the start and the end of the working day so there’s no need to miss work to get your travel vaccines.
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