#HealthTips: How to Protect Your Skin in Summer

Summer tends to be  Most expensive season of the year, rivaled only by the winter holidays. The costs for summer vacations, summer camps,...

Summer tends to be 

Most expensive season of the year, rivaled only by the winter holidays. The costs for summer vacations, summer camps, pool fees, and child care quickly add up, and can lead to exorbitant debts.

While you have fun outside on beautiful, sunny summer days, the sun’s ultraviolet rays damage your skin, causing sunburn, unsightly sun spots, wrinkles, and, in some cases, skin cancer.

Skin care in summer calls for special attention because during the summer season the skin natural oils start flowing freely which makes the skin appear dull, oily and blemished. In addition, the increased susceptibility to the UV rays of the sun not results in skin tanning, but also increases the problems of dark patches and wrinkles.

Skin tanning : Tanning is one of the major problems during summer, and most people try to find a quick solution to it by using chemical laden bleach or opting from cosmetic peeling procedures.

Sun burn or sun tan is a common problem faced by all of us, and the skin can get tanned any time it is not protected by sunscreen or clothes. The main reason behind skin tanning is a compound called melanin that is present in the skin.

The body normally creates melanin as a response to sun exposure in order to protect he inner layers of the skin from damage. This is the reason why skin changes colour after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Other than tanning or burning, some people also get freckles and uneven patches on the skin.

• Limit Your Time in the Sun : Instead of spending the entire day in the sun, limit your time outside to a couple of hours. Rather than reapplying sunscreen midway through your day, use this as your cue to go inside. This saves your skin and saves you money since you don’t have to apply another round of sunscreen.

•  Wear a Sun Hat : Women can select a stylish wide-brimmed hat, and men can choose a bucket hat or a Panama hat to help block the sun. A hat protects the top of your head, where you can’t apply sunscreen, and also offers added protection for your face and neck, often at the most at risk for skin damage. Buy sun hats at discount department stores during the off-season to get the best prices

•  Cover Up with a UPF Shirt : I love taking my son to the city park to play in the water fountains. I also love seeing that all of the kids at the park wear protective swim shirts. These shirts have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) which blocks out the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. A UPF of 40 to 50 blocks about 98% of the sun’s rays.

Tip: Buy loose-fitting attire, to get the greatest protection from UPF clothing. Look online for the best prices on UPF clothing; Amazon, eBay, and REI have great deals on sunblock clothing.

• Stay in the Shade : Staying in the shade protects your skin. Consider using an oversized umbrella if you plan to go to the beach this summer. The umbrella also provides an area for you and your family to cool off after a day in the hot sun. Buy sun umbrellas for the best prices during summer sales at Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

• Eat More Antioxidants : Eating antioxidants provides some protection against the sun’s rays. Fill up on fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of green tea this summer for maximum protection for your skin.

•  Avoid Reflective Surfaces : Reflective surfaces, such as water, snow, and sand, increase your risk of sun damage because these surfaces reflect up to 85% of the sun’s rays. People burn easily while at the beach or on a ski trip because of the exposure to reflective surfaces. If you can’t avoid these reflective surfaces, make sure every exposed body part has sunscreen, and remember to wear a hat or a cap to protect your skin.

•  Go Outside Early Morning or Late Afternoon : The sun’s rays are their strongest from 10 am to 4 pm. Try to limit your time outside to early morning and late afternoon to avoid overexposure to the sun.

•  Wear Sunglasses : Light-colored eyes have more sensitivity to the sun’s rays, but everyone should wear sunglasses when the sun shines. Sun damage to the eyes can cause cataracts and pteryguim, which block your vision. Make sure to wear glasses that have 99 or 100% UVA and UVB protection and wrap completely around your eyes, to ensure full protection. Look for deals on sunglasses during the off-season, and stock up on extra pairs of sunglasses during sales. 

•  Wear Dark, Thick Clothing : Although dark, thick clothing makes you feel warmer, these materials let in less of the sun’s rays than clothing made of thin, light-colored materials. Use caution when wearing thick, dark clothing during especially hot days, however, so that you do not get overheated. Drink plenty of water and limit your time outside when wearing heavier clothing.

•  Don’t Go to a Tanning Salon : Tanning beds can damage your skin beyond repair; even more so than tanning yourself in the sun. Tanning beds rank right alongside tobacco and arsenic as major causes of cancer.

•  Have Fun at Night : My neighborhood pool stays open every evening until 11 pm, and people swim there well after the sun goes down. To avoid getting a sunburn, wait to go to the pool or to have a cookout until after the sun sets.

•  Use Sunscreen : In addition to using the tips listed here, wear sunscreen to avoid getting sunburned. Buying enough sunscreen to protect your family from the sun can quickly become expensive. I’ve compiled a list of ways to save money on sunscreen below.

•  Hydrate yourself : During summer, your body tends to lose a lot of moisture. So it is important to hydrate your body with water from time to time. Drinking lots of water will help your skin remain soft and moisturised. Eating plenty of fruits will keep your skin and digestive track healthy.

•  Using a toner : A skin toner will keep the pores closed and keep the skin cool. You can try rose water as its natural cooling properties are excellent for summer.

•  Sleep well : Get sleep for seven to eight hours a day.

•  Use face wash : Clean your face at least twice a day. Keep a routine to wash your face once in morning and evening. Choose a cleanser which is gentle for your skin type. Look for a cleanser with mild AH or BH acids or papaya-based products. The papain enzyme in papaya helps to remove dead skin cells and also helps in new skin growth. 

•  Exfoliate your skin : You should exfoliate your skin two to three times a week as it will help in removing unwanted dead skin which may be clogging your pores and also improving blood circulation to the face.

•  Protecting your skin : Protect your facial skin by wearing a hat, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes as the sensitive skin around the eyes is prone for fast ageing.

•  Use lip balm : To keep your lips soft

•  Waterproof or no make-up : Make-up becomes a mess during summer because of the rise in temperature. Use light make-up which is water proof. When it is too hot try and keep your natural glow of your skin.

• Avoid aerated drinks : Aerated drinks contain lots of sugar which is not good for your face instead drink water, fresh lime, fresh fruit juices or coconut water. You should also minimise the intake of alcohol and caffeine as they reduce the water content from the body system.

•  Staying out of sun during hottest hours : The hottest hours of the day are between 10 am and 3 pm. You should avoid staying out for long in these hours as your skin will get more exposed to radiations.

Simple Homemade Remedies to Protect Your Skin from Summer Tan

Benefits of Lemon and Aloe Vera Face Pack: 

This is one of the most effective home remedies to remove tan. Lemon can be used as a bleaching agent to lighten your skin tone naturally without causing any harm to it. All you need to do is juice a lemon and besides that also mash the aloe vera leaves. Mix them properly until an aromatic paste is formed. Apply this onto the tanned area of the skin and allow it to dry. You need to apply this paste twice or thrice a day to cleanse and prevent your skin from getting tanned from time-to-time. This is also an effective cure for dark circles around eyes.

Keep in mind all the above mentioned summer skin care tips to keep your skin fresh and glowing. Also, having a proper balanced diet will help maintain the body functioning. Working out for 45 minutes a day will keep you fit and healthy.

About the author

Pooja Singla

DreamGirl/ Graduate from Delhi university/ Twitterer /Nature + Music
lover Interest in spiritualism & believe in God Wanna become the best
 Daughter of My Almighty :)