We’re in the middle of a very hot summer. Protecting our skin from the harsh sun is always important. A big part of this process is choosing the right sunscreen lotion. Wearing the proper clothing is vital, too. Here are a few other ways you can protect your skin this summer.
Wear Protective Clothing and a Hat
Wearing dark-colored clothes and a good sun hat is beneficial in protecting your skin. Doing these things helps protect it from UVA and UVB rays. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer good protection. Be sure to look for clothes with a high UV protection factor (UPF).
A wide-brimmed sun hat is great for sun protection. Try opting for hats with brims at least 3 inches in diameter. Baseball hats may be usually popular to wear in the summertime, but they aren’t good at protecting your ears, nose, and neck. When you do wear one, be sure to wear clothing or sunscreen that could protect your ears and the back of your neck.
Adopt a Healthy Sun-Protecting Diet
You are what you eat. Because of this, you must maintain a healthy diet if you want sun-protecting skin. Try opting for foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. One study states that one of the most effective ways to protect our skin involves exogenous antioxidants like vitamin A, C & E. Other examples of antioxidants include carotenoids such as bell peppers and mangoes and niacin-rich foods like brown rice, salmon, and chicken breast.
Omega-3-rich foods like fish and flaxseed are also vital for sun-protecting skin. They could provide enough calories to give your body the energy it needs against the hot sun. Not consuming enough omega-3s can cause your skin to become rough and scaly. You can also develop a red, itchy, and swollen rash.
Choose the Right Sunscreen
With the recent news about the Banana Boat sunscreen products being recalled, we must be selective in our sunscreen choices. The American Academy of Dermatology lists some guidelines for selecting a sunscreen:
- Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
- Opt for a water-resistant sunscreen.
- Make sure it is protecting your skin from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
Be sure to apply it on your skin 15 to 30 minutes before you go out into the sun. Reduce your sunburning risk by reapplying every two hours or sooner if you’re swimming in the pool.
Avoid Artificial Sources of Ultraviolet Lights
Besides protecting yourself from the sun, you must also protect yourself from artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation. One of these man-made sources is used at beach resorts. These include:
- Tanning beds: Sunbeds emit dangerous UVA and UVB rays that could increase your risk of skin cancer. It could also make your skin age early. The amount and type of radiation that a person is exposed to depend on the type of lamps used and how long they’re in the bed.
- Halogen, incandescent, and fluorescent light bulbs: These three different types of light bulbs could expose you to UV radiation. People who have lupus should make sure that their light bulbs have protective coverings.
- Mercury vapor lighting: These lamps are usually used to light up large areas such as gyms and streets. Mercury vapor lighting has an outer layer to protect people from UV exposure. But if it breaks, a high level of UV light could pass through causing headaches and skin burn.
Protecting our skin from the serious effects of the sun and these other forms of ultraviolet radiation is vital. As we go into the remainder of this summer, be sure you’re eating healthy, wearing protective clothing, choosing the right sunscreen, and avoiding UV lighting exposure.
Have any other sun-protecting skin tips? Be sure to share them in the comments section below. As always, like or share this post with the next person you care about.
