As you prepare to show more skin, get ready to face the sun’s rays with these summer skin tips. Prevent
One blistering sunburn doubles your risk of melanoma — perform a self-examination to detect early warning signs of carcinomas and malignant melanoma. Look for new growth or any skin change. If you suspect something is different but are not sure, see your health care professional.
Wear Sunscreen
Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Wear sunscreen year-round and reapply after swimming or sweating.
Cover Up
Wide brim hats, loose shirts, and long pants can reduce the sun’s harmful rays. Always protect your eyes with sunglasses.
Make friends with H20
Why?: Higher temperatures and more time outdoors leads to internal dehydration, which can result in headaches and dizzy spells! What you can do: Several glasses of plain, filtered water every day helps maintain the critical moisture balance of the body and skin and assist in detoxification.
Soothe over-exposed skin
What? You forgot the sunscreen, didn’t apply enough or got caught in a sunny spell. What’s next? Unfortunately, the damage is done, but you don’t have to suffer in pain! Super soothing after-sun creams and cooling gels can help prevent peeling and reduce redness and inflammation.
How?:
Apply cooling balms generously to overexposed skin, preferably at the first sight of a pink glow.
Keep skin hydrated
How?: Up your level of hydration with intensive facial masques, perfect for use one to two times a week. Booster solution spa treatments are a great idea, working best when layered underneath a moisturizer. Toners are a refreshing moisturizer prep., working to even out skin porosity.
Tip: Refresh with a revitalizing toner spritz at your desk, in the car, at the gym, or on the plane! What causes skin damage?: UV light causes photoaging in the form of brown spots, coarse skin, and wrinkles, whether you have burned your skin or not. When sunlight comes in contact with the skin for extended periods of time, a cascade of damage results (including the stripping of barrier lipids) causing inflammation, production of reactive oxygen molecules that affect healthy cell growth, and stimulation of collagen destructing enzymes. A tan may be a popular summer look, but it indicates damage.
