 
Introduction:
Underestimating the power of the tropical sun can often lead to
health problems with dehydration, heatstroke and getting sunburn.
Sun Skin Damage:
When you first arrive in Gambia on holiday you should begin your
sunbathing regime gently. The amount of time you can spend out
depends on your skin type. To minimize skin damage you should
avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Also, wear broad
spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with a minimum sun protection
factor (SPF) of 30. Even if it's a cloudy day you should still
put on sunblock cream or sun spray.
Acclimatization:
Some people will get heat rash in the first couple of days. Miliaria
is caused by excessive perspiration, usually in a hot, humid weather.
The ducts from the sweat glands in the skin become blocked. This
causes the sweat to seep into the adjacent tissue, causing redness
and irritation. You may feel the stinging, prickly, sensation
that gives this condition its name. Most rashes will heal by themselves
over time. To relieve the symptoms you should take a cool shower,
air dry your body i.e. don't use a towel, then put some baby powder
over the affected area. However, you must avoid the use of too
much air-conditioning if you want to acclimatize.
Dehydration & Heatstroke:
To avoid getting dehydrated drink lots of water in sips and gulps
throughout the day, take along a bottle of water, or buy one of
the plastic, purified water sachets sold in most shops. You should
also try and wear a hat and UV sunglasses to protect you from
the glare. It really can get very bright in the mid-day sun. If
you have any of the following symptoms of dizziness, a throbbing
headache, light-headedness, muscle cramps or weakness, nausea,
vomiting, lack of sweating despite heat or red, hot, and dry skin,
then this could be a sign that your are getting heatstroke. Go
seek medical advice immediately.
In Europe and the colder part of the USA people are used to walking
at a faster pace that in The Gambia. This is probably due to the
cold, and an attempt at creating some internal heat. The problem
is that when you come to Banjul you should slow down during daylight
hours, and walk at a slower pace, as it's easy to get overheated.
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Travel & Tourism Travel
Advice 
