One in five Americans is diagnosed with skin cancer every year thanks to exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. With the summer season getting closer, our exposure to those rays will increase as much as four times the amount of exposure we get during the rest of the year. Protecting and taking care of your skin is important all the time, but never more so than in the summer. If you aren’t sure where to start, look no further! We’ve got a few ideas to help you keep your skin healthy and protected from sun damage.
Wear Sunscreen Every Single Day
Seriously, this will be one of the most important things you can do for your skin this summer. Putting on sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days will prevent the majority of those harmful rays from reaching your skin. Choose a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and apply it to your skin at least 15 – 30 minutes before you go out in the sunshine. Make sure that you reapply it every few hours, especially if you’ve been swimming or sweating a lot.
Find Some Sun Protection Chapstick
Your lips can get sunburned, too, and since the skin there is thinner, it hurts a lot worse than other sunburns. When you pick out your sunscreen, be sure to pick up a lip balm that also has at least a 15 SPF rating. Put it on before you go outside and reapply it every couple hours. If you’re going to wear lipstick instead of chapstick, darker shades will help protect your lips more than lighter or glossy shades.
Pay Attention to Your Cosmetics
A lot of cosmetic companies make their concealers and foundations with sun protection now, so look for an SPF rating on the products you buy. A little extra protection from your makeup certainly won’t hurt!
Your Clothing Protects You, Too!
Another summer staple is a good hat to protect your face, ears, and neck from the sun. A wide brimmed hat is your best choice, although baseball hats work, too. If you have clothing that is made of unbleached cotton, high-luster polyesters, or thin, satiny silk, those fabrics will absorb or reflect the UV rays so that they don’t reach your skin. Dark colored clothing also absorbs UV rays and clothing with tight weaves prevents them from getting to your skin.
Skin Care Consultations
If you want to take better care of your skin, but aren’t sure how, call us at (480) 214-9955 to schedule a skin care consultation. Dr. Hobgood offers a variety of procedures to help keep your skin looking fresh and feeling healthy for the summer season. You can also get some individualized insight into your skincare regimen and the right type of products you need.
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