With beautiful sandy beaches, fantastic waves and vibrant green foliage, Puerto Rico is a tropical oasis. While the lovely environment provides ample opportunities for fun in the sun, all that sun exposure can lead to trouble for your skin, if you don’t take appropriate precautions. There’s nothing worse than ending your first day of vacation with a sunburn stretching from shoulder to shoulder, wrecking your plans for the rest of the trip. For a fantastic (and sunburn-free) vacation, check out our sun safety tips.
Sun Safety Tip #1: Be Sure to Use Sunscreen
Using sunscreen is crucial to ensuring that your skin is safe and protected from the sun. The FDA recommends using a board-spectrum (protection from UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied liberally to all exposed skin and reapplied every two hours (more frequently if sweating heavily or swimming).
To protect your skin and the reefs, consider purchasing a reef-safe sunscreen that meets the FDA recommendations.
Sun Safety Tip #2: Avoid the Sun During the Middle of the Day
It can be tempting to spend a whole day outdoors, but it is best to avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. Planning outdoor activities for either earlier or later in the day can help reduce your risk of skin damage from the sun. Utilize the time in the middle of the day to check out the variety of restaurants, bars, shops and museums that Puerto Rico has to offer.
Sun Safety Tip #3: Wear Weather-Appropriate Clothing
The appropriate choice of clothing can make a big impact in protecting your skin from the sun’s rays. Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants can provide your skin with additional protection from the sun. Brimmed hats are also useful for providing shade to your skin from the sun’s rays.
Sunglasses are vital for protecting your eyes, but not all sunglasses provide the same level of protection. The FDA recommends using sunglasses with a UV400 rating or “100% UV protection” on the label.
Sun Safety Tip #4: Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is important when spending a lot of time in the sun, as sun exposure can cause dehydration, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Regularly drinking water is important for maintaining hydration. In cases of mild dehydration, simple hydration by drinking fluids is recommended, and sports drinks can be beneficial in restoring electrolytes and salt balance.
Sun Safety Tip #5: Care For Your Skin After Sun Exposure
If your skin is sufficiently protected from the sun, you should not have to provide much additional care outside of your normal routine. If you are experiencing sunburn, however, there are a few ways you can care for your skin. Mayo Clinic recommends staying hydrated, taking cool showers or baths, and using a moisturizer containing aloe vera, among other strategies, to relieve skin discomfort.
By following our sun safety tips, you can help ensure that your vacation is as restful and relaxing for your body as it is for your mind. For a calm, relaxing getaway, book your stay with Maria’s. When you’re ready to stay with us, booking is done through Twin Palms, Maria’s rental, and onsite management. Please visit our booking page on this website to view the availability of Maria’s and fill out our convenient contact form. If you have any additional questions regarding Maria’s, you may call Elizabeth at 787-685-6648 (español: Cristina at 787-449-3673).
My husband and I had our wedding and reception at Maria’s. We rented the property for three days/nights. We wanted to make our destination wedding as accessible as possible for our family and friends. Maria’s was the perfect place. Twelve of our closest friends and family shared the house. I was so impressed that Maria’s had everything we needed, even little things like laundry detergent.