The warm, summer sunshine will often inspire individuals to spend time outdoors in tank tops, shorts, skirts, and sandals to soak in the sun’s rays and add color to their skin. Although hot weather may have most of us feeling excited and happy to be outdoors, excess sun exposure can increase the risk for skin damage and skin cancer. However, by taking the necessary precautions to protect your skin from damaging UV rays, you can continue to keep your skin looking smooth, fresh, and young.
Here are several skincare tips you can follow to protect yourself from the sun during the warm summer season.
Apply sunscreen throughout the day
Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin 20 minutes prior to going outdoors to allow the sunscreen to fully absorb into your skin. Continue to reapply sunscreen every few hours or after you’ve been in the water or have been sweating heavily, and always use sunscreen products that offer protection against UVA and UVB rays. Make sure you apply sunscreen to your neck, chest, and hands as well — as these areas are often more prone to sunburn and wrinkling and can reveal your true age when neglected.
Protect and treat your eyes and lips
Excess sun exposure can eventually cause the skin around your eyes to wrinkle at an accelerated rate, so make sure you use skincare products that will smooth and eliminate wrinkles around your eyes. Additionally, apply lip balm that contains an SPF to your lips to prevent them from becoming dry and chapped.
Apply moisturizer to your skin that contains SPF
Moisturizing your skin on a regular basis can help you avoid developing freckles, sun spots, irregular skin pigmentation, wrinkles, and other early signs of aging as a result of consistent sun exposure — even during the cooler seasons of fall and winter. During the summer, switch to using a moisturizing product that has a higher SPF for added skin protection, such as ReGenica Day Repair SPF 15, which reduces signs of aging as well as the risk for harmful UV sun exposure. Keeping your skin moisturized all year long will protect it against all types of indoor and outdoor elements — including air conditioning, indoor heating, and humidity.
Use a nighttime cleanser that contains glycolic or salicylic acid
If you tend to have oily skin, use a nighttime cleanser that contains glycolic or salicylic acid to loosen dead skin cells and promote skin cell turnover, which will help keep your complexion looking clean and young. Do not use these cleansers in the morning or during daytime hours, as these acids can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun’s rays and may result in additional skin damage.
Exfoliate your skin one or more times per week
Exfoliating your skin will help rejuvenate and repair damaged skin, and can give your skin a softer, brighter, more youthful appearance. If your skin is dry, limit exfoliation to between one and two times per week. If you’re prone to having oily skin, exfoliate between two and three times per week to help shed dead skin cells.
Use skincare products that contain antioxidants
Skincare products that contain antioxidants such as green tea, vitamin E, and vitamin C can help improve the overall appearance of your skin and reverse any existing sun damage. These products can also give you an added boost with sun protection, and leave your skin less likely to develop irregularities caused by excess sun exposure. You may also benefit from skincare products such as ReFissa, which contains prescription-strength vitamin A to treat fine facial wrinkles and blotchy hyperpigmentation in those with normal to dry skin types.
Rock Creek Wellness offers a number of aesthetic services and skincare products in Kansas City designed to help you look and feel your best. Reveal the beautiful, youthful skin that is hiding under years of stress and free-radical damage through our pharmaceutical-grade aesthetic services. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation or sign up to receive a 10 percent off coupon on our line of skincare products.
