Summertime means long days at the beach, traveling, vacations and precious time spent with family and friends. It also means a lot more exposure to the sun, since most of us will be out and about versus being cooped up in an office all day. Therefore, it is extremely important that we educate ourselves about sun safety.

The Sun: Both Helpful and Hurtful

Sure, we love our sunny days, but these are also the days that can hurt us most in the long run. Every time you go outside, you are exposing your skin to harmful rays that are emitted by the sun. These rays tend to be worse during the summertime because both the sun and people are out longer. Excessive exposure to the sun can cause significant damage to your skin and is, in fact, the leading cause of skin aging today! However, many people don’t see it this way. They want to be tanned and beautiful during the summer so that they’ll look better in their outfits. But the truth about tanning is that when your body gets a suntan, this is a sort of shield that your skin sets up in order to prevent the sun’s harmful rays from causing damage to the underlying tissues. So, while a tan might look good and healthy to onlookers, it can actually be bad for your health.

It is extremely important to use creams and even makeup that contains trace amounts of sunscreen year round. However, this is even more importan, if not mandatory during the summer. Sunscreens come in a variety of forms such as lotions, gels and creams and usually contain skin moisturizing agents such as cocoa butter, coconut oil, aloe vera and olive oil. These ingredients not only protect your skin from the sun’s rays, but they also keep your skin moisturized, which can help slow down the aging process (i.e. freckles, dark/age spots, wrinkles, etc.). The following are some helpful tips for that everyone should know before spending time in the sun:

1. Apply sunscreen or sunblock at least 1 hour prior to going outside.
2. Facial sunscreen or sunblock should be applied before any other moisturizer is put on your face.
3. Try to avoid spending time in the sun between 11am-3pm (when the sun’s rays are strongest).
4. Try to wear a hat as often as possible when in the sun because the sun can damage your hair as well!
5. Always stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
6. Always wear sunglasses when in the sun to protect your eyes.
7. If you do plan on going to the beach, bring an umbrella or make sure there is some sort of shade for you to sit in.
8. Never apply sunscreen to broken/infected skin.
9. If your skin is sensitive, apply a small amount of sunscreen to a small area to test it out before applying it elsewhere.
10. Check your body for any unusual moles or spots after sun exposure.

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Tags: Health, Healthy Living //