The summer vacations very often bring visions of sun-kissed skin, beach hair and bikinis to mind, but this is peak season for sun damage and it is very important for your health that you take care while enjoying the sun. Time in the great outdoors is good for you, obviously, but sun-exposure also leads to skin damage which ranges all the way from wrinkles to skin cancer and so you need to protect yourself.
How to protect your skin this summer
Most of us know that too much sun can bring out freckles, cause moles, and burn your skin, but did you know that sun exposure is also to blame for 90% of wrinkles? It’s true! Most of the damage is also incidental; while excessive sun-bed use and tanning is bad for your skin, it’s the little things like driving and walking the dog on sunny days that add up over time. This is why it’s so key to work SPF, UVA and UVB protection into your everyday skincare regime. This can mean hand, body and face moisturisers which have SPF protection in-built, or even foundations and BB creams which offer such perks.
Here’s all you’ll need to know if you’re to have a great summer in the sun, but still take great care of your skin on vacation and throughout the year;
- Throughout the summer season, apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you leave the house (minimum) and reapply through the day as needed (or every few hours). Alternatively there are once a day sunscreens, too.
- Apply your sun protection nude where possible as some clothing, and most swimwear, provides only minimal protection. This will also help to cover weird areas that might otherwise be forgotten.
- Get sun-creams that protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
- Avoid the sun between 10am and 2pm when the sun is strongest. This is particularly important during the summer months and while on vacation in hotter climates than you are used to.
- Don’t forget to protect your eyes, lips, scalp, hands and feet with the right creams, sprays and apparel.
- Rely on self-tanning kits and fake tan if you really must have that glow. The home-use kits are easier to use than ever before so take advantage of this.
- Depending upon your skin type you should exfoliate between one and three times per week as this will wash away sun damage and dead cells to revive your skin.
- When it’s really, really sunny, wear a hat to protect your scalp and face, and lightweight, cotton clothing.
Recovery Tricks for Summer
So you’ve managed to get burned (literally) and you want to help your skin recover! Well, we have a few tricks which will help your skin to heal as well as providing some rapid relief for sunburn. What’s key, though, is that you identify how you managed to get burned and ensure that it doesn’t happen again. Here are our top recovery tips:
- Make sure that you cool the burned areas down ASAP just as you would with any burn. This can mean jumping into the pool, taking a cool bath or a cold shower. Pat your skin dry and be sure to stay out of the sun after this.
- Moisturise the affected areas thoroughly to trap in moisture and keep the skin hydrated. The best choices are soy or aloe vera products.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs are a good course of action for more severe sunburns; ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can all reduce swelling, redness, and discomfort in the short-term.
- Slathering on some plain, natural yogurt can be a great source of relief for minor to medium burns, too, as it contains soothing lactic acid. Let this sit for 30 minutes and then take a cool shower, pat the skin dry.
- Up your intake of water to compensate for the dehydrating effect that burns can have. You could also try sports drinks as these will replenish electrolytes too.
- NEVER pick, pop or scratch blisters as this can cause infection. If you become dizzy, nauseous or feverish, or have severe blistering see a doctor.