Looking To Have Fun In The Sun This Summer? Here’s 3 Easy Ways To Enjoy The Beach Without Compromising Your Skin Health!
Nothing beats the feeling of warm sunshine when you’re out to enjoy the beach with friends and family!
Whether you’re jumping on the beach or running errands in your car with the top down, the sun’s embrace always makes you feel comforted and happy.
Of course with all its many benefits (mood boost and getting your dose of Vitamin-D) there are certain risks to consider.
Look we get it. The beach is supposed to be about having fun. Why ruin the excitement with boring safety rules?
Well you’re right. The beach is supposed to be all about fun! Although it is possible to maximize the fun by being a little mindful here and there.
That’s why we propose being smart about it so that you can enjoy it for as long as possible and as much as possible!
And as it turns out, it’s incredibly easy to enjoy the beach and be smart about skin safety at the same time!
That being said, here are 3 easy ways you can enjoy the beach and avoid skin damage!
1. Be Mindful Of Shade During Peak Hours
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests you out of the sun from 10AM – 2PM as this is when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
But it’s not always possible or practical, especially if you’re on vacation. The good news is that knowing this can help you plan your sun-safety strategy in advance and choose your activities accordingly.
For example, you may want to schedule your meals or kids’ naps during the hottest part of the day. It’s also a good idea to limit water activities to earlier in the morning or late afternoon.
However, if it’s unavoidable to be in the sun during peak hours, we suggest you apply your full-spectrum sunscreen at least 30-minutes before going outdoors, which we go over in #3.
2. Rock The Sunglasses
The AAD also suggests wearing long-sleeves shirts, pants and a hat when and if possible. However, on the beach, that’s far from ideal. However, sunglasses are great for the beach!
As it turns out, your skin isn’t the only part of the body that can sustain damage from sun’s harmful rays. Ultraviolet and Infrared radiation in our youth has been associated with serious eye problems when we’re older (think cataracts and macular degeneration).
Make sure you and your kids are always wearing sunglasses that block out 100% of UV radiation. Whether you’re outside during peak daylight hours or a cloudy day, eye protection should go hand-in-hand with UV-resistant clothing and good sunscreen! Which brings us to #3.
3. Choose The Right Products
Of course, being on the beach means you’re going to be more exposed to the sun than usual. As such, you’ll need some sunscreen to enjoy it worry-free.
Here’s a few things to consider when choosing your sunscreen.
Look For The Right Ingredients
If you’re going to be outside this summer learn the difference between chemical and physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreen forms a protective barrier that deflects harmful UV rays. Chemical sunscreen on the other hand prevents sunburn by absorbing the sun’s energy. Many products combine both ingredients to give you the best of both worlds.
Ideally, you’ll want formulas that contain Zinc Oxide in micronized form to avoid looking pasty.
Know this Statistic: 50% of Sun Damage Happens Before Age 20
Water can amplify the sun’s rays by 80% and kids’ delicate skin can burn in minutes. The best defense for your little ones is with UV-resistant clothing.
As kids grow up it can become difficult to keep their hats and t-shirts on, especially in the pool. That’s why you should always pack full-spectrum UV protection with you.
Avoid Using Products Designed to Accelerate Your Tan
It may be tempting to slather your skin with lotions and potions that promise to quickly turn you into a bronze god or goddess. Tan accelerators work by increasing melanin (pigment) production in your skin while you sunbathe. Unfortunately these products don’t typically have high enough SPF to protect your skin from burning and accumulating UV damage that can result in premature aging and deadly melanoma. If you absolutely have to use tan accelerators. then we suggest offsetting some of the damage after you’re done tanning by applying antioxidant lotion.
Our Personal Favorites: iSClinical Skincare
At The Dermatology Office and REJÚV esthetics, we’re big fans of the iS Clinical brand of skincare products!
We carry and recommend both the Extreme Protect SPF 30 Sunscreen and Hydra-Cool Serum for protecting your skin while you’re out having fun!
Why We Love The Extreme Protect SPF 30 Sunscreen
- Multi-Level Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
- Antoxidant-Rich Protective Barrier
- Key Ingredients: Zinc-Oxide, Octinoxate, Olive Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica and Extremozymes
- Great At Hiding Sunburn Damage As Well As Preventing It
Why We Love The Hydra-Cool Serum
- Great For Sunburned Skin
- Antioxidant-Rich Protection
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid (your skin’s best friend), Centella Asiatica (antioxidant), Mushroom Extract and Vitamin B5
Where To Find Them
If you’re interested in buying these for when you’re out in the sun, we do offer them through REJÚV esthetics’ online shop, which carries both products along with a bunch of other iS Clinical Skincare Products.
Recommended Next Steps
At this point, you have a few options:
Option 1: Take what you’ve learned and have fun!
Now that you know how to enjoy the sun while avoiding skin damage, you can go out there and just do that. We also invite you to share the information with friends and family so they can get in on the fun as well.
We also suggest you check out the American Academy of Dermatology’s website for a really cool infographic on practicing safe fun in the sun.
Option 2: Let us help you.
At The Dermatology Office, we provide personalized skin care plans as everyone has a different skin-type that is affected differently. If you’re interested, we invite you to schedule a consultation where we can:
- review your skin-type and health
- put together a personalized treatment plan for you
- provide you with the right medications and skincare products that best suit your skin’s needs
- address any of your worries and questions
If that’s something that you think would be good for you, you can get in touch with us here!
