Summer is here! It’s time to head outdoors for hiking or relaxing at the beach. But before you make your plans for the summer, take a look at these helpful tips protect your skin from the sun.
Protection from the sun is one of the most important factors of year-round skin care. Even on the cloudiest days, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin! Thankfully, making it a habit to apply a daily sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF can protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays all year long.
A few reasons to use SPF daily
Skin protection.
UVB rays from the sun are the main cause of those nasty sunburns, and prolonged exposure can severely damage your skin. Dermatologists recommend using a product with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more UVB rays, but there is no sunscreen that can offer complete protection.
Anti-aging benefits.
Many of the visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines, are caused by the sun. The sun’s UVA rays can penetrate to the deeper layers of your skin and may affect how the skin rebuilds itself over time. So choose a broad spectrum SPF product to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays.
Healthy-looking skin!
Proper skin care and protection with SPF can help your skin maintain its smooth, youthful appearance. And if you’re using a moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF daily, you can protect your skin while nourishing it. Who doesn’t want skin that’s healthy and glowing?
Other tips to keep you sun safe
- Wear light-colored, natural fiber clothing that allows your skin to breathe. Protect your hair from the sun by wearing a hat—a wide-brimmed hat will provide extra protection for your face as well. And look for sunglasses that block UV rays to safeguard the health of your eyes.
- Limit direct exposure to the sun as much as possible, especially between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. when UV light is strongest.
- To make sure that your skin stays protected all day long, reapply your sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF every two hours during exposure to sun. Apply more often when active or if you’ve been swimming—even if the sunscreen you’re using is waterproof.
- Ensure that you apply an SPF product to all exposed parts of the body, including easy-to-forget spots like your ears, the sides of your neck, and the top of your feet.
- Stay hydrated. It’s important to replace water lost to perspiration in the heat of the sun. Carry a water bottle with you and drink at least 8–10 glasses of water every day.
Now go out there and have a sun-safe summer!
