Going to be Outside a Lot? How to Keep Your Skin Protected

Thursday, March 15th, 2018

With nicer weather, it is highly likely that we all will be out in the sun more. Though we need to protect ourselves and our families at all times since the UVA Aging Rays of the sun are present even in the shade and indoors, we need to be especially careful when we are directly in the sun.  Therefore, we thought we would create a list of best practices that will keep your skin protected. Let’s take a closer look.

Wear Sunscreen

The best — let’s repeat that again — the best thing you can do for your skin is to wear sunscreen each and every day, rain or shine. Make sure you are applying sunscreen to every part of your body that is not thoroughly covered with sun protective clothing. Since there is a huge difference in sunscreens, make sure you are wearing the right one. There are 2 ways to get full effective coverage for both UVA and UVB. One is to use a combination of chemical sunscreens including avobenzine. The other is to use Zinc Oxide, a physical sunblock. The difference is that the chemical sunscreens are effective for only about an hour outside and perhaps 2 hours indoors. Zinc Oxide, which now goes on clear, however, is effective until you wash or rub it off. It, therefore, is practical and our recommendation. Using a sunblock with at least 8% Zinc Oxide gives you all the UVA and UVB (SPF) protection you need.

Try Self-Tanning Creams and Sprays

A lot of people think that because their skin is light and it hasn’t seen the sun in a few months, that they should get it ready and hit the tanning bed. However, tanning beds are basically a path toward skin cancer (Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists call them “skin cancer machines”). Skip the skin cancer and give your skin the extra glow by trying some sunless tanning cream or spray.

Cover Up

Another way to keep your skin shielded and protected? Cover it with a big hat and clothes. Hats are not perfect, but they do reduce some of the sun that gets to your face. Clothes are far from perfect either. Most only slow the UVA rays a little bit. There are, however, 2 things you can do to improve the effectiveness of clothing. One is to buy specific sun protective clothing. These are available at the Highland Hiker and other stores that sell sporting clothing. You can also wash the clothes you already own with Rit SunGuard, available at our office, on the net and some stores, once every 6 months.

Taking good care of your skin when out in the sun doesn’t have to be difficult. With these easy tips, you can, hopefully, keep your skin healthier and younger for longer. To learn more about skin care tips, schedule a consultation at our Highlands office today (828) 526-3783.