You bleach your whites so they stay bright, you wash your delicates by hand so they stay in good condition, and you wash your darks in cold water so they don’t fade….you treat your clothes with the utmost care so why aren’t you taking care of the most important thing you wear everyday?? 

We are a month into summer and it is only going to get hotter from here and even those usually apprehensive of the warm rays can’t seem to avoid the beautiful weather! Now before you throw on those flip flops and designer shades be sure to put a hat on and slather on the sunscreen….I know what you are thinking…’if I put on sunscreen how am I supposed to achieve that golden glow?’

We all want to look like bronzed gods & goddesses but is skipping sunscreen really worth it? We all look to different methods to achieving that bronzed look, turning to self-tanners, tanning booths, a lazy day in the sun, or a combination of these. A tan may look good but it is also visible proof that your skin has cellular damage, and prolonged exposure to the sun can cause wrinkles, brown age spots, blotchiness and leathery older looking skin. So before you step out, here are a few things to think about……

The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach your skin: UVA and UVB. UVB radiation burns the upper layers of skin (the epidermis), causing sunburns. UVA radiation is what makes people tan. UVA rays penetrate to the lower layers of the epidermis, where they trigger cells called melanocytes to produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment that causes tanning.

UVA rays may give you that golden tan you desire, but they are the most dangerous because they go deeper into the skin than UVB rays. UVA rays go through the protective layer of the epidermis straight into the dermis, where blood vessels and nerves are found. UVA rays could harm a person’s immune system making it more difficult to fight off diseases and leading to severe illnesses like melanoma. Melanoma, if not discovered and treated promptly, can spread and kill in a very short amount of time.

Cancer is not the only concern associated with UV exposure, UVA damage to the dermis is the main factor to premature aging and hyper pigmentation. And yes, there are countless products out there to help combat the signs of aging and even out skin tone, but why not just stop the problems before they start?

Now after reading all that I am sure the last thing you want to do is go outside, but really, who wants to live like a hermit?? I sure don’t! The key is to enjoy the sun sensibly.

* Wear an SPF of at least 15 everyday, even on cloudy days. If you are a water baby be sure to use a sunscreen that is waterproof and reapply at least every 2 hours.

* Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA & UVB rays. However, just because you do not get sunburnt that doesn’t mean that the UVA rays are not doing damage beneath the skin’s surface so if you feel like you are not putting on enough, switch to a sunscreen with a higher SPF.

* Avoid tanning accelerators that claim to speed up the tanning process, it is not proven that they work and more than likely do not contain SPF.

Speaking of tanning accelerators, many people feel that getting a base tan in a tanning bed before summer hits or before they go on vacation will prevent them from getting a sun burn. There is no truth to the base tan theory, if you burn in real sunlight, you will burn in a tanning bed. However if you are feeling a little pale and want a bit of colour and the sun is no where to be found, there are a wide variety of self tanning lotions on the market that, when applied properly look as if you were basking in nature’s sunlight for days.

Sunscreens and giant hats are not the only way to protect your skin from those harmful UV rays, healthy eating plays a huge part as well. Be sure to eat a lot of vitamin rich foods to look healthy and feel strong.

* Vitamin A not only keeps skin and eyes strong but also aids in repairing and maintaining healthy skin. Carrots, sweet potatoes and dark green leafy vegetables are examples of foods that contain Vitamin A.

*  The antioxidant vitamins E & C which can be found in foods such as nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil; strawberries and broccoli can help to protect the skin cells from free radicals. Vitamin E rich foods can give your skin a healthy summer glow while the vitamin C can keep skin looking young & youthful. Antioxidants also help in the development of collagen along & elastin which helps reduce the signs of aging.

* B Vitamins fight stress and aging of the skin and ensure healthy development of skin cells and can also help to reduce acne. Bananas, whole grains, fish & dairy products such as milk & yogurt are great sources of vitamin B.

* Adding vegetable oils to your meal is a great way to get those omegas into your diet which help to moisturize the skin from the inside out, and can also calm skin irritations.

And I cannot stress enough how important water intake is. Water plays a huge part in keeping the skin strong and healthy, and also helps keep you hydrated on these hot summer days.

So grab your sunglasses, hat, sunscreen & cooler of yummy food and hit the beach, pool or park, before that sunshine turns into months of rain.

Teresa

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Skin Therapist

il Destino Salon and Spa, Port Moody