Summer Skin Care for the Entire Family

Summertime is finally here and everyone is enjoying the great outdoors. But along with fun summertime also poses a serious threat to our skin. Damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun can wreak havoc on everyone’s skin, from the oldest member of the family down to the baby. But with some basic precautions you can protect and give your skin the care it deserves during the hot months.

Stay in the Shade

Stay out of the direct sun whenever possible. Sit under trees, on the porch or anywhere there is shade rather than under the broiling rays of the sun. Use beach umbrellas and try to avoid the sun’s hottest hours – between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Remember glass doesn’t keep out UV rays, sitting next to a sunny window in the house or car can be just as harmful as being outside. Use window shades that block the sun in the car, particularly the infant car seat side.

Keep Your Shirt On

Stripping down to the bare basics may seem the way to keep cool in the summer offers no protection to your skin. Lightweight cotton that breathes is a much better choice. Keep in mind light colors reflect the light and heat while darker colors draw it in. Wearing white or pastel colored clothing will help keep you cool and protected. Children should be covered well, especially at places like the beach. Use beach cover-ups with sleeves when children, and adults, are not in the water..

Spread on the Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be applied generously a half-hour before going out into the sun. You want your sunscreen to be a SPF 15 or higher. Be sure and spread it on often overlooked areas – your ears, nose, top of your head and lips are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to damage from the sun. To protect the lips use a lip balm specifically designed for being out in the sun and has sunscreen added.

No sunscreen is one hundred percent waterproof no matter what the label may tell you. Reapply lotion every hour when swimming or playing in water. When working or playing actively outside reapply sunscreen every hour. Sweating is the same as being in the water; it causes the lotion to wash off your skin.

When buying sunscreen read the label carefully. Make sure it provides protection from both times of rays from the sun -UVA and UVB – those ultraviolet rays that are invisible to the eye but do serious harm to our unprotected skin. Most of us are aware of the UVB rays and the damage they cause – redness, sunburn and blistering – the results we see and feel immediately from being out in the sun too long. But UVA rays are dangerous too. They can cause more serious problems down the road like skin cancer and early aging skin.

Read on - Page 2

Recommended Products