How to Take Care of Skin in Summer

skin care tips summer

The resiliency of human skin makes it quite something, and the reality is that by the time you get to old age, your skin will have gone through a lot and won’t have much of the appearance it did when you were young. There’s not much you can do about that, but you can see to it that your skin’s appearance isn’t made worse by sun damage. Too much sun exposure can really make your skin age much quicker than it should. Keep in mind that UVA and UVB levels from sunlight are much higher than they used to be, and even if you don’t have a sunburn, you can still have sun damage. Skin care tips summer may be just what you need.

The best way to start this discussion might be to discuss how sunlight affects the skin. Most people will know what melanin is, and having more sunlight means more melanin is about the extent of their understanding of what sun exposure does to skin. For people who like to get a tan, it’s a wonderful thing, while for those who prefer as fair skin as possible, it’s every reason to stay out of the sun. But here’s the thing; the extreme end of either of those preferences can be harmful. Too much sun – and especially when you’re not wearing a quality sunscreen – can lead to melanoma, which is skin cancer.

Too little sun may contribute to you being Vitamin D deficient, and it’s also depriving yourself of one of the natural joys of life. Basking in the sun in the summertime is a treat, and you should get it while you can because many cities are pretty dark, wet, and dreary in the winter if they’re not buried in snow. Summer is a season that should be enjoyed to the max, as fall always comes around way too soon.

But sunlight doesn’t just boost melanin levels as you get a tan; it affects the skin in other ways too and generally speaking, they are not positive effects. You may like having a ‘golden glow’ by the end of August, but as you get older, that may not be as appealing as it was in your youth. So, let’s look at how to take care of skin in summer.

Avoid Photoaging

There are many instances in life where having something at a ‘comfortable’ distance is preferable, and you’ll hear that applied to everything from workplaces to annoying relatives who thankfully live elsewhere in the country. So, for example, if Auntie Jo is equal parts loveable and loony, then it may be best if she is only able to visit once a year or so. Now, if she were 150 million km away, you’d never see your Auntie at all, and yet that’s the comfortable distance that exists between the earth and the sun. Maybe not so comfortable anymore given how it relates to global warming, but that’s on us.

Back to skincare tips for summer, and let’s now consider what the #1 biggest problem related to your skin getting too much sun is. Solar elastosis is the primary reason it is not a good idea to spend too much time with skin exposed to direct sunlight. What solar elastosis involves is the skin’s connective tissue breaking down because of the UV ray skin damage. No one likes to have their skin have creases, deep wrinkles, and start sagging, but that is what happens when solar elastosis compromises the skin’s elasticity and strength. Actinic keratoses and solar lentigines on the forehead are other examples of photoaging skin.

Be Super Sun Smart

The first of our skin care tips summer has to be the most elementary of them – limit your time in the sun. And if you still want to spend most of the day on the beach even though the UV index is super high, you may want to consider getting one of the pop-up sun tents that will allow you to enjoy the view without having the hot sun roaring down on you all day.

Next up, of course, will be to wear sunscreen if finding shade isn’t possible or you need to be on the move when doing something like going for a bike ride. Choose one that is SPF45 or higher if you want a higher level of sun protection. Your face and the back and sides of your neck will get a lot of sun, and that’s why so many people wisely choose to wear a wide-brimmed hat that keeps the sun off their face AND the back of their neck. A ball cap will only shield your face. These are good skin care tips for summer, but there’s even more you can do to protect skin from sun damage, and if you want to have healthier-looking skin when you’re older, it’s a good idea.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

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