Summer sun and high temperatures can have a big impact on your health, both good and bad. The weather can encourage you to get outside and give your body a needed dose of vitamin D, but it may also have negative effects on your skin. Use these summer skin care tips to stay healthy and protected while enjoying the outdoors.
Use – and reapply – sunscreen
About 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. To protect your skin, apply enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass about 30 minutes before you’ll be outdoors. Reapply frequently, especially if you’re sweating or getting in the water.
Apply lip balm
Even if you’re diligent about protecting the rest of your skin, it’s easy to forget your lips. Not only is the skin on your lips delicate and liable to become dry, it’s also possible to develop skin cancer in this area. Use lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher whenever you’re outside to moisturize and protect your lips.
Wear a hat and sunglasses
A hat with a wide brim will shield your face from the sun, while sunglasses will protect your eyes as well as the delicate skin around them. The sunglasses will also keep you from squinting, which eventually leads to wrinkles.
Add fruit to your diet
Watermelon is a staple of summer that contains powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals that cause the appearance of aging. In addition, it’s a good source of vitamin C, which helps your body produce skin-boosting collagen. Other go-to summer fruits include cherries, which can fight inflammation and prevent wrinkles, and nectarines, which are packed with skin-friendly nutrients.
Exfoliate
Use a mild exfoliant to remove dead skin debris that makes your skin look dull. Exfoliation also cleans your skin, reducing the likelihood of breakouts caused by sweaty summer skin.
Treat dark spots
Dark patches may form on your face, neck, forearms and any area of skin that gets a lot of sun. To lessen their appearance, apply fade cream nightly in an over-the-counter or prescription strength.
Hydrate your skin inside and out
The sun can dry out your skin, so to keep its healthy glow, drink plenty of water every day and apply a soothing moisturizing facial mask once or twice a week.
Try tinted lotion
Instead of exposing your skin to hours of sun damage, use tinted lotion to give your skin a healthy shimmer.Lotion also make your skin look pretty and smooth – which is great as it tends to be exposed more during the summer.
Check your skin regularly
Get a yearly exam from your doctor to check for signs of skin cancer, and examine your own skin monthly to look for new moles or other growths and to note any changes in existing growths. You can easily remember the warning signs by thinking of the letters ABCDE:
- A – Asymmetry (two halves of a mole that don’t match)
- B – Border (an uneven border)
- C – Color (a variety of colors)
- D – Diameter (a diameter larger than a pencil eraser)
- E – Evolving (a change in elevation or another characteristic, or a new symptom such as bleeding)
It’s important to protect your body, so be sure to diligently follow these summer skin care tips. To learn more about empowering your body this summer and throughout the year, contact BMI of Texas and get health insights from our blog.