Keeping your skin safe from the summer sun

Who isn’t happy that the sun is finally shining? Not only does it warm up our beaches and poolsides, it gives us gorgeous tans and boosts our immune system with vitamin D. Unfortunately all this sunshine is a mixed bag (and we’re not talking about sunburn). Getting that tan means speeding up the aging process of your skin and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Don’t ruin your summer with sunburn and protect your skin for years to come with these simple sun protection tips.

Rub, rub, rub 

The easiest (and most obvious way) to protect yourself from the sun is sunscreen. Though it seems straightforward, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to using sunscreen correctly.

First things first, how do you pick the right cream? There is no need to use a sun protection of 50, SPF 15 will block 93% of UV rays. SPF, however, only refers to the UVB filter. UVB rays are the cause of sunburns, whereas UVA rays reach deeper and can be even more damaging to your skin. For full protection check the ingredients list for a UVA filter and avoid any creams that use perfume and alcohol (which can increase the aging process of the skin).

Secondly, how do you apply the cream correctly? Start your sunny day right by applying approximately half a teaspoon of sunscreen to your face. Your arms and legs will need four tablespoons and your torso needs two. A spray might feel more convenient but it doesn’t give you the coverage you need to get the full SPF value as printed on the bottle. Reapply cream every two hours if you are in the sun as the protection will wear off.

Eat up

Another way to protect yourself from the sun is by eating the right foods. There are three things you should look out for during the summer months: antioxidants, omega three fatty acids, and lycopene.

Try making your own iced tea for antioxidants and have a piece of chocolate with a high cocoa content (about 85%). Omega three fatty acids can be found in fish and nuts and, luckily, a lot of summer fruits are high in lycopene. Why not make a fruit salad of watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit? Or maybe a fruity poolside cocktail; it is summer, after all.

Sally Wijers

For further information on sun protection visit here.