Summer is here(In some countries that is!)! Everyone seems to be so excited about going outdoor and perhaps enjoy the beach. Oh, we all love going to the beach especially during hot season. But aren’t we forgetting anything? The UV rays from the sun can cause undesirable effects to our precious skin.
Prolonged unprotected sun exposure is a big No-No. Why? Because the sun can do more damage than just a painful sunburn. Every time the sun strikes your skin, it produces pigment that scatters and absorbs the rays. The resulting tan means your skin is fighting back itself from harmful radiation. Some may love the tanning effect. However, overtime the UV radiates can weaken the lower layer of the skin and promotes wrinkles. Prolonged exposure to sunlight causes brown spots; red, scaly spots; drying or worst of all, skin cancer. Don’t be scared though. There is actually plenty you can do to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Check the advices below to prepare you this summer.
Sunblock
As much as possible, don’t go outside when the sun’s rays are most intense. Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the open between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the rays are strongest. However, if there’s a need to go outdoors, wear sunblock 30 minutes beforehand. Always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. SPF stands for “sun protection factor”. Is it a measure of how well sunscreen protects your skin. In real life cases, sunblocks aren’t always as effective as the SPF would indicate so it is a must to constantly reapply. Reapply when necessary, usually every two hours. Use waterproof sunblock if you will go swimming or when you sweat a lot as there’s a tendency that it will be shred off.
Wear Lip Balm
The sun can also burn the lips as considered a sensitive part of the skin. Use lip balm with an SPF of at least 15. Reapply whenever needed.
Wear Sunglasses
UV radiation can damage the eyes long term leading to cataracts. Be sure to bring your sunglasses and wear them when going out on a sunny day. Sunglasses protect delicate skin around the eyes from wrinkles. The best sunglasses block 99-100% UV rays so look for ones that have labels claiming 100% UV protection.
Cover Up
The Skin Care Foundation recommends wearing hats and clothings made of dark, tightly woven materials as these absorb ultraviolet light better than cotton fabrics in lighter shades.
Stay in the Shades
Enjoy outdoors from underneath a tree or an umbrella. And even then, use sunblock because UV rays bounce around a lot. Remember, you can still get burned even when the rays are strongest.
Eat Foods That Provides Sun Protection
The foods that we eat can actually aid to protect our skin from sun damage. How is that possible? It’s the antioxidants found in these certain foods that help fight the free radicals that build up from sun exposure. As we know, free radicals can lead to wrinkles and premature aging. Tomatoes, watermelon, and guava fruit have lycopene which provide protection against UV radiation. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon have anti-inflammatory compounds that have been known to reduce free radical damage. Dark chocolates have flavanoids that can prevent sun burns. Lastly; green, leafy vegetables are jam packed with free radical fighting antioxidants. So eat healthy!
