Summer is here and you’re probably already starting to spend time outdoors in order to enjoy the incredible sunshine. As amazing as the sun can feel on your skin, you probably already know that it can really do some serious damage if you’re not careful.
While there’s nothing wrong with spending time outside, and doing so is actually pretty healthy for most people, you need to take all of the necessary precautions to protect your skin. For most people, that means getting the right sunscreen and applying it properly.
Most people think they know everything there is to know about putting on sunscreen since they’ve been doing it since they were kids. Science changes though, and so does what we know about skin protection.
Use these top tips to help you protect yourself from serious sun damage this summer season.
Apply Sunscreen Early
Sunscreen is essential for keeping your skin healthy, and chances are you put it on every time you know you’re going to be in the sun. You might even use a moisturizer that has a basic skin protection factor every single day.
However, to truly protect your skin before longer exposure times, you need to put your sunscreen on early. That means at least 30 minutes before you head outside so that it has some time to dry on your skin.
In addition to sunscreen, you should also wear clothing that is protective. Long-sleeved shirts and light linen or cotton pants can be the difference between a sunburn and healthy skin – even if you’re using sunscreen along with these protective items.
Avoid Crazy SPF Number
SPF, also known as skin protection factor, used to be a big deal. For years and years you’d find sunscreen companies trying to one-up each other when it came to who could develop the sunscreen with the highest SPF number. Unfortunately, these sunscreens really aren’t as effective as you might think and they typically cost a whole lot more than basic sunscreens.
The truth is that you’re better off buying a standard SPF 30 that protects from both UVA and UVB rays and reapplying on a frequent basis. Ideally, you should be reapplying your sunscreen every 60 to 90 minutes when you’re out in the sun.
Otherwise you could be risking skin damage, even if you don’t see a sunburn beginning to form.
Image via Pixabay.com
