It’s easy to lose track of summer skin care while you are enjoying yourself outside. Protecting your face during the summer months is important to remember because of the increased risk of the damaging UV rays and exposure to your skin. UV rays are also more powerful during this time of the year. There are two types of UV rays and both can damage your skin. UVA rays cause the skin to tan as well as wrinkle, and UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer. Repeated exposure to UV rays can lead to dry skin, fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, freckles and other skin discolorations. Up to 80% of premature skin aging is in result of damage from the sun.
You can continue to enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends with proper preventive care. When possible wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize direct exposure to the sun. You may also want to consider UV protection apparel. Sunglasses will also help protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them. Your eyes are sensitive and prone to melanomas and cataracts. The skin around your eyes is prone to the fast appearance of aging. When choosing sunglasses pay attention to the UV protection details on the product label. Pick sunglasses that offer 99 or 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays. Skip sunglasses that neglect to mention details about their UV protection. Staying inside or in the shade during the sun’s peak hours, from 10 am to 4 pm will also help minimize exposure. Try to get exercise and activities done in the earlier or later parts of the day. If you are spending a lot of time swimming rinse of after you take a dip and moisturize your skin. Water reflects and intensifies UV rays and the chlorine in the water strips your skin of its natural oils. Chlorine can irritate your skin and causes it to dry out and crack, which can lead to wrinkles. Using moisturizing body wash and lotion after a day at the pool will help prevent skin damage. Applying sunscreen is probably the last thing on your mind while you’re at the beach or playing outdoor sports, however it should be something you are paying very close attention to. Choose your sun protection factor (SPF) carefully. SPF indicates the amount of time you can stay in the sun with that particular level of sunscreen. For example, an SPF of 15 means you can stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning your skin than you would without any sun protection. You should use at least SPF 30 sunscreen if you are planning on spending longer periods of time outdoors. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be applied to all areas generously and repetitively. Reapply sunscreen if you are swimming or sweating.
It is estimated that 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by prolonged sun exposure. UV rays penetrate the deepest layers of the skin and damage the collagen, a spongy protein that gives skin it’s structure, firmness and elasticity. Your skin is also exposed to other summer elements such as wind, dust and increased levels of humidity which can also cause damage to delicate pores and cells. During this time of the year it is particularly important to carefully consider which makeup, creams and soaps you are using. It is important to use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen and reapply it generously. Also, pay attention to your skin’s texture. Generally, skin becomes oilier during the summer and you may have to switch to a lighter formula to prevent clogged pores and excessively oily skin.
Skin care companies, such as Sheridan Labs and Phoenix Labs, have developed all-natural products targeted at protecting your skin from the elements of summer and reducing any existing signs of premature aging. Sheridan Labs developed the Equinox Serum to protect your face from further damage with broad spectrum 30 SPF protection. It contains sea weed extract, argireline, hyalyronic acid, red tea extract and multi-peptide to aid in permanently reducing existing signs of aging from sun damage. Phoenix Labs has released RVTL Anti-Aging, a similar product, to target existing signs of aging. The sun can take a toll of your skin, but with these helpful tips you can keep your skin protected and beautiful all summer long.
Image Source: Marjan Lazarevski
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