Summer Sun Care

While summer means fun in the sun, make sure you’re not getting too much of sun exposure. Avoid consequences of over exposure to the sun like sunburns, premature aging of the skin, wrinkling, and skin cancer.

Drink plenty of liquids: Beating the fatigue and getting into a good mood can be a challenge in the heat of the summer! Drinking enough water to keep your body fully hydrated and working at optimum levels will drive away fatigue and grumpiness and put you in a sunny mood. If you are dieting this summer and not drinking the correct amount of water then it will not do enough wonders for your weight loss. The best way to get glowing healthy skin isn’t to buy more creams or apply fake tan – it is simply to drink more water! Drinking more water will help with spots, acne and redness and give you that healthy, refreshed glow.

Sunglasses: Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible. · Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the market, regardless of cost, meet this standard.

Sunscreen: Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hoursand after you swim or do things that make you sweat. Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

Hats: Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck. For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection. If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.

For the perfect tan, scrub beforehand: Using a scrub prior to heading out into the sun will allow your tan to develop on fresh new skin and therefore give you an all over better and more prolonged tan. Always use aftersun after any sun exposure, this repairs, hydrates and restores your skin’s natural balance, as well as prolonging your tan

Store your protection in a cool place: Do not store your sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals. Make sure they are accessible but in the shade. Sunshine is great for us. It boosts our Vitamin D levels, makes us smile and can bring on that all important feel good factor.