Don’t Fry Day: 5 Tips to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Glowing skin is always in no matter the season.
Summer is the OOTD season. Instagram is flooded with people flexing their swimwear or selfies in their cool summer outfits.
But, your outfit or swimwear should not be your main priority this season… your skin is. Because your skin is 90% of your selfie and 100% a factor of your overall health.
The sun is very important to every living creature. Vitamin D is essential for all human beings.
However, too much exposure to the sun can cause different skin problems and health issues. Discoloration, sunburn, skin redness, and age spots are the potential skin problems caused by overexposure to the sun. While headache, heatstroke, dehydration, and skin cancer are common health issues.
Quick fact about the sun’s UV rays:
The sun provides two different and dangerous kinds of UV rays:
- UVA rays - can cause hyperpigmentation, sunburn, and skin cancer
- UVB rays - contributes to skin aging and melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
To better enjoy summer without these worries, always protect your skin. Beat the heat with these five summer skin care tips so you can let your confidence shine!
Use sunscreen everyday, even if the sun is hiding
Most people avoid sunscreen, particularly if it’s cloudy and rainy, because they think they won’t need it considering the sun is not that harsh.
But in reality, clouds and rains don’t block the harmful UV rays. You won’t know the wavelength of the UV lights and even if the sun is not that visible, your skin can still absorb those.
Always apply sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher, 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. This way, your skin will have enough time to absorb the product.
Reapply sunscreen every one to two hours. Since you’re sweating, the product can wear off easily, especially if you’re swimming and working out.
Don’t forget to pay extra attention to your lips, they need proper care too. You can use a lip balm or lipstick that has sun protection factor to prevent them from cracking.
Mind the time
In summer, it’s really tempting to go outside any time of the day. The warmth of the sun makes you want to dive into the water, go sunbathing, ride a bike in the park, or just walk around the neighborhood.
Yet, in terms of protecting your skin from the heat, it’s necessary to limit the amount of time you’re exposing yourself outside. 10:00am to 4:00pm are usually the hours the sun’s rays are very intense. Make it sure that in between those times, you’re not overly exposed to the sun. An hour and a half is enough to enjoy the vitamin D, but exceeding that is already dangerous.
Find some shade
The sun is unpredictable. You can go outside with the sunlight still being lovely, then just a couple of minutes away, it’s already too painful.
Thankfully, there’s a way to prevent this. You may not know it, but the sun usually shows signs as a reminder for you to find your shade.
If your shadow is shorter than you, it means the sun’s rays are at their most extreme, therefore you must find your shade until the heat subsides. Just don’t forget your sunscreen before heading outside and re-apply as needed.
Choose your OOTD wisely
Loose and thin clothing are the most comfortable to wear on a hot day. This is fine if the sun is not too harsh. But if it is, as much as possible, wear dark long-sleeve tops and pants to cover your skin. These clothes can block more sun than loose and light fabrics.
You don’t have to wear thick ones, because they can cause heat exhaustion too. The goal is to protect your skin from the UV rays and extreme heat of the sun.
Gear up
Pair up your outfit with a hat and a pair of sunglasses for that cool, yet safe summer OOTD. You can also accessorize with a thin scarf to protect your neck from the sun.
There are even sunglasses that have UV lenses, which can provide additional protection for your eyes.
And don’t forget to hydrate! Fill up that favorite tumbler of yours, and bring it wherever you go so you can stay hydrated at all times. Remember, water is the best drink to stay refreshed and healthy this season.
TAKEAWAYS
Skin protection doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. All you need is consistency and discipline. Just keep it simple, but do it forever.
Related Blogs: