Summertime is finally here and everyone is enjoying the great outdoors. But along with fun summertime also poses a serious threat to our skin. Damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun can wreak havoc on everyone’s skin, from the oldest member of the family down to the baby. But with some basic precautions you can protect and give your skin the care it deserves during the hot months.
Stay in the Shade
Stay out of the direct sun whenever possible. Sit under trees, on the porch or anywhere there is shade rather than under the broiling rays of the sun. Use beach umbrellas and try to avoid the sun’s hottest hours – between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Remember glass doesn’t keep out UV rays, sitting next to a sunny window in the house or car can be just as harmful as being outside. Use window shades that block the sun in the car, particularly the infant car seat side.
Keep Your Shirt On
Stripping down to the bare basics may seem the way to keep cool in the summer offers no protection to your skin. Lightweight cotton that breathes is a much better choice. Keep in mind light colors reflect the light and heat while darker colors draw it in. Wearing white or pastel colored clothing will help keep you cool and protected. Children should be covered well, especially at places like the beach. Use beach cover-ups with sleeves when children, and adults, are not in the water..
Spread on the Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be applied generously a half-hour before going out into the sun. You want your sunscreen to be a SPF 15 or higher. Be sure and spread it on often overlooked areas – your ears, nose, top of your head and lips are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to damage from the sun. To protect the lips use a lip balm specifically designed for being out in the sun and has sunscreen added.
No sunscreen is one hundred percent waterproof no matter what the label may tell you. Reapply lotion every hour when swimming or playing in water. When working or playing actively outside reapply sunscreen every hour. Sweating is the same as being in the water; it causes the lotion to wash off your skin.
When buying sunscreen read the label carefully. Make sure it provides protection from both times of rays from the sun -UVA and UVB – those ultraviolet rays that are invisible to the eye but do serious harm to our unprotected skin. Most of us are aware of the UVB rays and the damage they cause – redness, sunburn and blistering – the results we see and feel immediately from being out in the sun too long. But UVA rays are dangerous too. They can cause more serious problems down the road like skin cancer and early aging skin.
Hat’s On Not Off
Your head needs protected from the sun as much as the rest of your body, so keep a hat handy. Wide brimmed hats are an easy way of keeping the sun off your face along with your head. The hat needs to have a brim of at least one to two inches to do any good. Ball caps won’t work if you want full coverage. Children and babies should always wear a hat when in the sun.
Blisters, Sunburn and Redness – Oh My!
If you end up being in the sun with no sunscreen or were out longer than you intended and do get sunburn, take care of it immediately. Apply cool water compresses gently to the sun burnt area to cool the skin. Drink plenty of fluids to re-hydrate your body as your skin can get dehydrated as well as the rest of you. Sunburn depletes water and needed nutrients from your skin.
Good, old fashion aspirin is one of the best things you can take to get rid of the inflammation and pain of a sun burn. Taking aspirin, at the first sign of a burn can make a difference in stopping full-blown sunburn. You can also apply topical pain relievers that can go to work immediately and start soothing your skin. Soaking in oatmeal bath is soothing to burnt, dried out skin. Applying a healing lotion, cream or gel that contains Vitamin E and menthol can help cool and start the healing process as well. If your skin starts to blister badly you may need to see your doctor.
Remember with a few simple steps taken ahead of time you and your whole family can enjoy the sunny days of summer and protect your skin all at that the same time.
