Sun Safe for Summer

By: Kelly Ford

Warmer days are finally here but warmer weather brings stronger rays. It is important to wear sunscreen year round but especially during the summer. The CDC reports that Melanoma is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. and many times goes undetected. Keeping your skin protected from the harmful UVA and UVB rays not only prevents premature aging but may save your life as well.  The sun can cause serious damage to the skin resulting in brown spots or hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries and loss of elasticity.

Keep in the mind that the sun is strongest between the hours of 10AM and 4PM so if you are going to be spending time outside, please be diligent about applying sunscreen. Many makeup lines have SPF in them but it’s better to be safe than sorry so apply a layer of sunscreen before applying makeup.  A broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30-50 should be applied every two hours or every 40 minutes after swimming. Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense or Image Prevention+  Sunscreens are both good choices. When applying sunscreen be careful not to overlook areas like ears, lips, nose, eyelids, back of neck and tops of feet. It’s also wise to wear a cute floppy beach hat to protect your scalp. Increase your water intake to prevent dehydration.

If you are unfortunate enough to develop a mild burn, post care is important to prevent infection. Avoid any further sun exposure and warm showers.  It is important to lower the sub dermal temperature of the skin because any heat trapped within can worsen a burn. Take a cool shower or bath. Add some oatmeal packets to soothe the skin.  After drying off apply either pure Aloe Vera or Aloe Vera with lidocaine to help ease discomfort. You can also take an over the counter anti-inflammatory and apply a hydrocortisone cream. If you don’t have any aloe on hand you can mix up a batch of this old fashioned remedy:  Steep 3 black tea bags in pitcher of water and cool in refrigerator. When cool, fill a spray bottle and spritz all over your body. Do not rinse. The tannic acid and theobromine in the tea helps dissipate heat.  Never peel off damaged skin. The skin underneath is very sensitive. Let your skin heal and shed on its own. If your skin is blistered or you are experiencing nausea, fatigue or the chills please seek medical attention immediately. A burn can be very dangerous.

Remember a bronzed body may look healthy but can be harmful to your health! Consider a spray tan instead to get that sun kissed glow or our Cool as a Cucumber facial to soothe an overexposed face. Follow these sun safe tips and enjoy your summer!