Safely enjoy your time outdoors this season with these helpful hints.
Protecting your skin from the sun is important all year, but it is particularly important in the summer when the sun is out in full force. While it’s fun to explore the outdoors or relax basking in the sun on the beach or even in your backyard, it’s important to take care of your skin. In this article, we’ll go into how to protect your skin from the summer sun.
The following are a few top sun protection tips:
- Apply high-quality sunscreen
- Wear light-colored, breathable clothing
- Stay in the shade when possible
- Get a hat and sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection
- Check if your medications increase sensitivity
- Avoid peak sunlight hours
Keep reading to get informed on how to protect your skin from the summer sun.
Apply high-quality sunscreen
There are a lot of sunscreens on the market, and they’re not all created equal. To ensure a high-quality formula, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, such as these dermatologist-recommended brands. Apply your sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply it as the directions instruct, especially after sweating or swimming. Don’t forget easy to miss parts of your body like your ears or your scalp at the part in your hair. Be sure to protect your lips with a lip balm containing SPF.
Wear light-colored, breathable clothing
Wearing light clothing (in both weight and color) creates a barrier between your skin and the sun while keeping you from overheating. Dark-colored clothing absorbs more heat from the sun, which in turn, makes the wearer feel hot. Wearing loose, breathable cotton or linen clothing is your best bet for protecting your skin and staying cool.
Stay in the shade when possible
If you’re going out for a walk, choose a route with plenty of trees. If relaxing with a book or eating dinner outdoors is more up your alley, sit under an umbrella or set up a table and chairs in a nice shady corner of your yard to protect your skin from the summer sun. However, note that shade by itself won’t completely shield you from UV rays, so make sure to keep using the other sun protection tips as well.
Get a hat and sunglasses with UV protection
If you’re not planning to apply sunscreen to your scalp, take other precautions to protect the sensitive skin in that area. You can get a sun hat that shades your face and has UV protection built-in. To protect the eyes and surrounding skin, choose close-fitting prescription or regular sunglasses with polarized lenses that block UV radiation.
Check if your medications increase sensitivity
Do you take any prescriptions? Some medicines can increase sun sensitivity. Common categories are antibiotics, some autoimmune and diabetes medications, and thiazide diuretics used to lower blood pressure. If you take medications that can increase your sensitivity to the sun, limit the amount of time you spend outdoors, and be extra cautious about protecting your skin from the summer sun.
Avoid peak sunlight hours
Our final tip on how to protect your skin from the summer sun is all about timing your outdoor excursions just right. The sun is at its strongest from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it’s best to plan the bulk of your outdoor time as either an early bird or an evening owl. The weather will also be a little cooler during these times, so you lower your risk of overheating.
Now that you know how to protect your skin from the summer sun, see our tips for seniors exploring the great outdoors!
If hearing loss prevents you from connecting to family and friends over the phone, learn how a CapTel captioned telephone can help you catch every word.
