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+---
+title: "Mexico Series Part 2: Sun Safety"
+date: 2026-07-20T00:00:00Z
+tags: ['mexico']
+draft: false
+---
+I've run across other foreigners here in Mexico (mainly missionaries) who are from places where the UV rays aren't as intense, and sometimes it seems like they don't know how to handle the sun. I suppose this entry is a PSA for anyone in their situation. As someone who gets as red as a lobster after ten minutes in direct sunlight, and who has been living in Mexico for several years, I've picked up a few tips along the way.
+
+Firstly, understand that **sun exposure allows your body to produce vitamin D, which is essential for bone health, mood regulation, and immune function**. Vitamin D deficiency is common, and the best natural source for it is through sun exposure. So be sure to get enough of it either through your diet or by taking supplements if you don't get out enough. (consult your doctor)
+
+What you want to avoid is getting a sunburn, unless of course you want aging skin and skin cancer. For that, **sunscreen is your best friend**. Put it on all parts of your body that might be exposed to the sun, reapply it every two hours maximum, and *always* have some on hand. You never know when you might end up stranded outside for longer than expected.
+
+Personally, I prefer to cover up so that I use less sunscreen. **It's best to have lightweight clothing that keeps you cool in the heat but also covers as much skin as possible.** For example, long sleeve shirts and lightweight pants. Hats are a popular option here for covering the face. Some people wear ski masks and sunglasses to protect their eyes. I'm not going to make an exhaustive list, it's just about what you feel fits your personal style.
+
+**Umbrellas are also an option.** The ones I've seen in stores only keep you dry. My advice is, *if* you're going to buy one, don't cheap out. I purchased one that blocks UV rays, has a reflective top, permits heat dissipation, and collapses for portability. Although it's good quality, I really don't like using it and I don't recommend umbrellas in general. They don't replace sunscreen or covering up because of their several big caveats:
+
+1. You have to hold it the whole time you're under the sun. If you need to carry anything else, it's a pain in the ass. Take it from me—I've held an umbrella in the hot sun while transporting shopping bags and a backpack long distances. It's pure hell.
+2. For closed spaces, you have to be constantly opening and closing it for clearance, which defeats the purpose, and constantly aware of where it's at. I've lost count of how many times I've snagged my umbrella on something or accidentally ran into someone with it.
+3. When windy, it can blow away at high speed, becoming a hazard for drivers and pedestrians alike. If it doesn't blow away it'll probably become inverted, meaning that until you fix it, it won't do its job very well. Speaking from experience, it gets to a point where you're fighting the umbrella more than you're using it, and you just give up and close it.
+4. If the sun is low, you have to hold it facing the right direction at the right angle to block any UV rays. In my personal opinion, trying to keep track of its orientation as you move about is a fool's errand.
+
+To summarize, umbrellas are only convenient for blocking the sun when you're not carrying other items by hand, you're in an open space, it's not windy, and the sun is more or less directly overhead. In other words, probably not very often. But to each their own.
+
+Another tip I have is **make a habit of finding shade**. Shade has been crucial for me personally because no matter how much sunscreen I apply, I still eventually get burned if I remain in direct sunlight. So for instance, if one side of the street is sunny and the other shaded, I walk on the shaded side. If I'm waiting outside, I look for a shaded area to wait in. I try to run errands late in the evening when it's dark, although that's not always feasible since most places close in the evening. Early morning is also an option.
+
+My final suggestion is **plan ahead, and always have a backup plan**. If the clouds part, it's no problem because you applied sunscreen beforehand just in case. You brought an extra tube for when the sunscreen wears off. You lost the extra tube, but that's no trouble either because you can use a portable umbrella meanwhile you go for more. If you need to take the bus and you have no sunscreen, you can't use the umbrella. But you chose a bus which has a shaded area in the back for you to sit in. You get the idea.
+
+The worst mistake you can make is not caring and letting yourself get burned. The second-worst mistake you can make is relying on a single method to keep your skin safe. **In conclusion, dealing with the sun is about using all the tools and strategies available to you, planning ahead, and always having a plan B.** Take care of your skin folks. It's your body's largest organ.