During the summer season, it’s normal to want to enjoy the warmth and sunshine. Unfortunately, unless you take proper care of your skin, you can experience multiple issues in both the short and long term. To help you keep your skin healthy and repair any harm, we’ve put together this simple, practical guide.
Sun damage can have a severe impact on your skin, and while some of the more immediate effects include sunburn, blisters, and peeling, long-term effects can include premature aging, discolouration, or even skin cancer.
These issues arise over long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays, which damage various parts of the skin, including elastin. As the elastin breaks down, your skin can start to sag and lose its elasticity. Even if you avoid the worst effects, prolonged exposure can mean your skin bruises and tears more easily, and heals more slowly.
With all this in mind, it’s crucial you begin protecting your skin as early and frequently as possible.
Daily habits that prevent UV harm
If you want to protect your skin, there are a couple of daily habits you can add to your routine. These include:
Using sunscreen
Perhaps the most well-known preventative measure, sunscreen is designed to block the most damaging of the sun’s rays. For the best effect, we recommend applying it dayly, even on cloudy days.
Wear protective clothing
Another way to limit the amount of sun exposure is to wear protective clothing. Options to consider include light, long-sleeved garments, as this allows your skin to breathe while still reducing the sun’s impact.
Avoid peak sun
The sun is usually at its strongest between noon and 3 pm, so we recommend either staying indoors or in a shaded area.
Choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly
Sunscreen is perhaps the most important tool to protect yourself from the effects of sun damage, but how do you pick the right option? There are three key points you should consider when choosing sunscreen.
Broad spectrum
Both UVA and UVB rays are highly damaging to your skin, so it’s best to choose a broad-spectrum option that protects against both.
SPF30+
A higher SPF protection will help prevent sunburn, but the very lowest amount you should apply is SPF30. We also recommend using a higher SPF for your face.
Water resistance
Sunscreens are not waterproof or sweatproof, which means they’ll need to be reapplied throughout the day. Options with high water resistance will last longer and may not need reapplication as frequently.
How to reverse the damage
If your skin has been damaged by the sun, there are still ways for you to reverse the damage. There are several products you should consider, but our top suggestion is retinol skin care products.
Since retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, it encourages cell turnover and rejuvenation. This means it boosts collagen production and helps set sun-damaged skin cells on a healthier course. Due to this rejuvenation, retinol products can reverse almost all signs of sun damage when used regularly.
