Real Namibia: The Sun

“Decades ago, before the invention of sun beds, when skin cancer was something that caused funny blotches on rich Americans, Namibian children used to spend their lives outdoors with a minimum of clothing.”

Sun, bright blue skies, and this... Ouch!

Astronomers and physicists have it wrong. The earth actually has two suns. The first is the one that circles the globe. The second is the one that rises and sets over Namibia. Or perhaps the hole in the ozone is actually located directly over Namibia. Whatever it is, the one that rises and sets over Namibia is very different from whatever it is that you know as a sun.

The Namibian sun burns hotter and longer.

Decades ago, before the invention of sun beds, when skin cancer was something that caused funny blotches on rich Americans, Namibian children used to spend their lives outdoors with a minimum of clothing. Suntan lotion was for the sissy kids of rich people. Running around in the sun, even when the tarmac was melting, was regarded as a natural, healthy way for kids to grow up.

The vomiting, shaking and delirium that accompanied the first few weeks of summer were usually put down to too much physical activity and a little bit too much sun.

All that has changed. Today the parents of a child who has a deep tan earn odd looks and disapproving stares. Farmers, the ones reputed to spend the most time in the sun, have adopted long trousers and long-sleeved shirts, no matter how hot the weather.

The first piece of advice that most Namibians give to visitors is to ‘stay out of the sun’. We know that you don’t get much sun in the northern hemisphere. We know that you only see clear, blue, cloud-free skies in months that begin with the letter R.

Nevertheless, you are our guests and we want to take home souvenirs, not melanomas, so please stay out of the sun! Besides, even if you don’t get skin cancer instantly, you will get that deep brown tan or just go bright red and start peeling, both of which conditions make Namibians feel very ill at ease.

There are certain sensible strategies for avoiding the worst effects of the sun.

The first and most obvious is a serious UV block. Think 40+ here. Use it everywhere that is exposed to the sun, and by that I mean, everywhere. If you wear open shoes without socks, you need the lotion on your feet. Most Namibians know that you can even pick up a nasty sunburn down there. Once you are beginning to pick up a bit of a tan, start using a slightly lower factor, but not much lower.

Stay out of the sun when it is at its highest. Anything between the hours of nine thirty and four in the afternoon during summer is courting disaster. Don’t think that because it is cloudy, the UV has gone away. You will experience its effects with or without the clouds.

Know the symptoms of too much sun. If your skin begins to heat up and sting, it is time to get out of the sun. If you start seeing a pink tinge to the skin, get under some shade immediately. If you feel tired, dizzy and nauseous, you should have gotten out of the sun at least an hour ago. Get into the shade, drink small amounts of water, go and lie down in an air-conditioned room and expect the worst. If you ignore this advice you may need a doctor. You may well have heat exhaustion. This is also a good point to stay away from alcohol.

If you have spent some time in the sun and have picked up a burn, use some ‘after sun cream’. I don’t know what is in it, but I swear by it. It seems to relieve the pain and tightness. You may also want a moisturizer, even if you are a man. It helps you move without too much pain. A mustard bath is a fairly well-known home remedy. Have a warm bath with a couple of spoonfuls of mustard mixed into the water.

If you pick up blisters, don’t pierce them. And if you start peeling, don’t pull the skin off. The layer underneath will probably peel as well. If you want to get rid of the peeling skin, have a shower.

As a point of interest, if you have spent too much time in the sun, don’t think that it will be easier tomorrow. It will be just as bad. As most yesterday’s children, today’s thirty plus generation will be able to tell you, it takes about two weeks before you become sufficiently inured to high levels of sun before the vomiting and dizziness stops, and even then, it reoccurs from time to time.

If your skin has a darker tone, all the above advice still applies. The only difference is that you may not go red or start peeling.

The Namibian sun is like alcohol. Too much of it can cause permanent damage. Enjoy it, but use it responsibly.