Helpful Ways To Protect Your Skin From The Summer Heat

When the summer sun is in the sky and keeping you warm, it is important to remember to take care of your skin and protect it from the sun’s rays. While they may feel nice, they can cause serious damage to your skin if you don’t take care of it properly.

There are multiple ways that you can protect your skin during the summertime and keep it glowing and beaming beneath the sunlight.

1. Always Wear Sunscreen!

Perhaps the most obvious way to protect your skin from the sun’s rays is to always wear sunscreen, and remember to reapply! Not only does it smell like summertime, but sunscreen seriously works wonders from preventing your skin from sun burn and also protecting you from health risks such as sun poisoning and even skin cancer.

At least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, apply one ounce of sunscreen to your face and any skin that is showing. This will allow the sunscreen to dry and protect your skin. After being outside for two hours, remember to reapply. If you are swimming or sweating, reapply every hour to guarantee that you protect your skin.

2. Be Careful At The Beach!

Nothing screams summer more than a trip to the beach, or even a day at the pool! But it is important to remember to be careful when you are near sand and water and to protect your skin. These surfaces attract and reflect the sunlight, increasing your chances of burning and sun poisoning. Apply generous amounts of sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and remember to switch off between shade and sun.

3. Limit Time Outside Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Yes, this is prime time to be outside running errands or catching up with friends at lunch, but it is also important to keep at mind that during this period of time, your skin is at high risk of burning. This is because the sun’s rays are the most intense at this time, meaning that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) index reaches its peak during these hours. When the UV index is high, 8 to 11, your skin is at a very high risk of burning.

4. Keep Your Lips And Ears Covered!

When applying sunscreen, many people forget to apply to their lips and ears. In fact, people often get skin cancer on their ears because they forget to keep them protected. Remember to apply a generous amount of sunscreen to your ears, and while putting sunscreen near your mouth seems gross, there are alternatives that you can take into consideration. Purchase lip balm with sun protection factor (SPF) included and reapply every 30 minutes to keep your lips protected.

5. Moisturize!

As you may have assumed, the heat of the sun dries out your skin, making it even more likely to burn and quickening the process of wrinkles developing on your skin. Always carry lotion and face moisturizer with you wherever you go, and remember to continuously apply moisturizer as well as sunscreen while out in the sun. Moisturize every morning and night as well for maximum protection.

6. Check The Ultraviolet (UV) Index Consistently

The sun’s ultraviolet index, or how strong and intense the sun rays are, runs on a scale of 1 to 11+. The higher the sun’s UV index, the more intense the rays are and the more your skin is at risk of burning. Throughout the day, the sun’s UV index changes multiple times throughout the day depending on where the sun is and how hot its rays are. Remember to keep up with the UV index and apply sunscreen as needed!