After the cold and chilly winter comes the warmth of the summer. This is the time when people come out of their houses to enjoy the warmth of the sun and welcome the outdoor activities. With the sun at its best and the temperature soaring up, people spend most of their time in sunbathe and rejoice the true beauty of the nature.
But with the glowing tan comes the threat of skin damage. Too much exposure to sun can cause skin cancer and other harmful skin diseases. So, it is necessary for you to take precautions when you are taking sunbathe and enjoying outdoor summer activities.
Here are some simple but effective tips you should follow when you are going out in the sun in summer months.
- Use of sunscreen lotion: There is no doubt that sunlight increases vitamin D production but at the same time too much exposure to the sun is very harmful. So, it is better to apply sunscreen on your skin from head to toe everywhere. Use sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher in protection and that too at least 20 min before you go out into the sun. Try to use water-proof varieties and reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours if you are out for swimming or sweating too much.
- Cover your body: The safest time to be out in the sun is the early morning and the worst time is the period between 12 pm and 2 pm. So to protect yourself from the scorching heat, you must cover your body completely before going out. Along with applying sunscreen, wear a sun hat, sun blocking lip balm and sun glasses to avoid facial exposure to the sun.
- Avoid using coarse scrubs: You must not use facial or body scrubs with coarse granules. These scrubs cause tiny pores in the skin and ultimately lead to uneven pigmentation when you are out in the sun; in spite use moisturizers and cleansers which contains alpha-hydroxyl acids. This is good for tender exfoliation and at the same time improves tone and texture of the skin. The oil free moisturizers having alpha-hydroxy acids keep the skin moist and that too without excessive greasiness.
- Listen to your mother’s advice: You must listen to your mother’s advice and wash your hands properly before and after any activity. This will reduce the chances of transmission of germs and infections. Also take shower after swimming; so that, the salt and the pool chemicals can be cleared away. Moreover, before tanning you must not scrub your skin as it may lead to the burning of your skin.
If you are on sand, water or snow, then you must know that UV rays are intense in these environments. Also, you may feel the sun rays to be hotter in the afternoon but it is most intense at midday. Besides, at higher altitudes sun rays are more intense. Hence, take necessary precaution while you are moving to the above said places during summer.
Following the above tips during the summer, you can protect your skin from the severe effects of the sun rays and at the same time you can enjoy the warmth of the summer. .