Health Mistakes We All Make At The Beach

[caption id="attachment_831133" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Fun portrait of an african american woman with shell in hand at the beach[/caption] It’s almost beach season! If you’re the type who is on the beach at 7 am, claiming the best spots and setting up the little smart drink holders you purchased online, then you’re probably already mentally checked out of work. You don’t go to the beach to think; you go to the beach to turn your brain off and do a little connecting with nature. Between that fact, and the sun softening your brain, you may not be thinking about your health much when you’re in the sand and sun. But the beach—gorgeous as it is—is not an inherently sanitary place. So before you slip your koozie onto your can and sit back to relax, make sure you aren’t making a few mistakes that could send you home, calling your doctor. Here are health mistakes most people make at the beach. [caption id="attachment_701869" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Sitting in a wet bathing suit

Bacteria love wet and warm environments, like your bikini bottom, just after you’ve gotten out of the water and have let the sun heat it up a little. A wet bikini bottom is a yeast infection waiting to happen. Bring dry bottoms to change into for when you’re done swimming.         [caption id="attachment_701120" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Not choosing UV-resistant fabric

If you don’t put sunscreen over your entire body—including the parts covered by your swimsuit—and you don’t wear a bathing suit made from UV-resistant fabric, then you aren’t protecting your entire body. The sun’s rays can make it through a lot of bikini fabric, so make sure yours protects you against those harmful rays.     [caption id="attachment_707084" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Holding your bladder

Going to the bathroom at the beach is never easy. There is either a long line for the limited porta potties, or the nearest bathroom is not near at all. This could lead you to hold your full bladder, dreading the bathroom line. But holding your bladder is a recipe for a urinary tract infection. So get in line for the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge.       [caption id="attachment_704555" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Going to the bathroom in the water

If you’re one of the millions of people who do this but won’t admit it, stop! Not only is it disrespectful of your fellow swimmers, but it’s also another recipe for a urinary tract or bladder infection. Go use a proper toilet.         [caption id="attachment_710654" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

A splotchy sunscreen job

If your friend offers to help you put sunscreen on your back, take her up on it. Putting sunscreen on by yourself will inevitably leave some parts of your body unprotected. Also, don’t forget about your hands, ears and feet!         [caption id="attachment_821866" align="alignleft" width="900"] Credit: Bigstock[/caption]

Failing to wash your bathing suit

Clean your bathing suit after every use. You can do this by soaking it in a tub of cold water with a tablespoon or two of white vinegar, or a mild detergent. Your bikini picks up quite a bit of bacteria at the beach. If you never clean it, that bacteria just grows and grows over time. [caption id="attachment_827908" align="alignleft" width="573"] Portrait happy smiling african woman in colorful clothes and sunglasses in profile[/caption]

Not wearing sunglasses

Sunglasses don’t only protect your eyesight, but they also protect the very thin and delicate skin around your eyes. Not wearing sunglasses can make those wrinkles rush in.       [caption id="attachment_831134" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Beautiful girl. Women's ass at the pool. Girl near the pool. Beautiful body of a girl in a swimsuit[/caption]

Wearing a thong bikini

You should absolutely be proud of your booty! And buy all the thong bikinis you want. But, again, the beach has a lot of bacteria. Even if you sit on a towel, there is a good chance some sand will sneak into places it shouldn’t. Save the thong bikini for your friend’s pool or generally cleaner swimming environments.         [caption id="attachment_826665" align="alignleft" width="645"] Outdoor shot of happy young african female sitting outdoors and smiling. Woman wearing sunglasses sitting outside her house.[/caption]

Not wearing good sunglasses

If you take our advice to wear sunglasses, don’t grab the first $5 pair you find at the gas station. Now is the time to be glamorous and pick the huge sunglasses that wrap around your eyes—these keep out the most UV rays, and also block allergens. [caption id="attachment_621214" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

Boozing without H2O

If you plan on bringing booze onto the beach, first off, check with the local law. Second off, don’t forget to pack your water! Alcohol is dehydrating under normal circumstances, but now you’re adding the hot sun, which depletes you of even more water while you sweat.         [caption id="attachment_701290" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock.com[/caption]

Not eating to look slim

If you don’t want to bloat in your bikini then bring raw veggies and lean protein. A carrot, celery and hummus platter and some hard boiled eggs make great beach foods. Just don’t starve yourself to look slim in your bathing suit. Hunger, combined with the heat of the sun, could cause you to feel faint.         [caption id="attachment_718925" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Forgetting the hand sanitizer

The moment you put your hands on the sand or in the ocean, you’ve covered them with germs. If you rub your eyes or eat with those hands, you could wake up with an infection or a parasite. Bring the hand sanitizer and use it generously.         [caption id="attachment_715132" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Running on hard sand

While running on the beach can be easier on your knees than running on pavement, not all sand is created equal. Running on hard sand can be nearly as bad for you as running on pavement, so only jog if the sand is soft.         [caption id="attachment_698416" align="alignleft" width="516"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Keeping your contacts on

Take your contacts out before going in the water. Parasites found in the water can easily get trapped behind your contacts and cause an infection. If you are vision impaired, wear prescription sunglasses at the beach.           [caption id="attachment_707673" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Forgetting to reapply sunscreen

Treat sunscreen application like you would cookies in the oven: set an alarm! Forgetting to reapply your sunscreen, even for a half hour past when you should, could do a lot of damage to your skin.

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