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Summer is a wonderful time for discoveries, fun, beaches and exciting travel. It is also the time of damaging sun rays, drying winds and extra sweat, crazy plane flight schedules and hotel rooms. In the short, summer is the time you may love, but your skin may dread. Here are some basic guidelines for Summer Skin Survival.
Summer Skincare needs to focus on:
Wearing sunscreen in summer may seem obvious but knowing the minimum SPF required to prevent skin problems is not that easy.
According to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) SPF 15 is the minimum you should wear to prevent skin cancer, however, both the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend SPF 30 or higher
To prevent dark spots and skin photo-damage and photo- aging you may do better to use SPF 50+ during summer every time you feel you will have extended sun exposure.
Apply your selected Sunscreen 30 or 15 minutes Before Sun Exposure so it can penetrate your skin and can actually do its job. Reapply Every 2 Hours
You need also to remember that not all SPF protection products are equal.
To properly protect acne prone or oily skin from the sun without further clogging pores, it’s important to look for a lightweight, non-greasy, non-comedogenic sunscreen.
Look fo :
If you spend a day on the beach, bring an umbrella or seek shelter. If you hike – or walk the sunny city- wear a hat or seek occasional shelter. Sun has some important health benefits but spending hours under it can be way too much.
Sun exposure, sand, and salty water can dehydrate your skin. To compensate for the drying effects of these external elements and to bring balance to your skin, focus on moisturizing your skin from both inside and outside.
Revitalize your skin once a week
Revitalizing masks are great tools for restoring skin balance, providing extra moisture, and enhancing skin elasticity. Choose a mask that helps to repair and strengthen the skin barrier. Remember that the skin barrier helps to keep the skin balance and protects it from external stressors, including bacteria, pollution, ROS, etc. Your skin barrier can weaken due to excessive sun exposure, so boosting its recovery by using a mask once a week will improve your skin defenses, texture, and appearance.
Also don’t forget to cleanse and exfoliate. Cleansing more often removes sweat and dirt build-up; (make sure to use a gentle cleanser). This will help prevent acne breakouts; Exfoliating regularly helps to remove dead skin cells and promote a brighter complexion.
Give your skin a night to remember : RETINOL | Vit C Serum
Use products containing hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides to hydrate, calm and restore the skin barrier, and those which also feature peptides to help improve the appearance of fatigued skin.
UV radiation is an important source of Free Radicals. These feared elements damage our tissues and cause premature skin aging (you can learn how free radicals work here). To help your skin be protected from their damaging effects, you can add antioxidants to your diet and skincare regime. All foods rich in vitamin C will provide your body with antioxidants. Its cosmetic form, Ascorbic Acid, will do the trick as well; it will go directly to your skin, to prevent photoaging. Specific serums and free-radical scavenging peptides can be very helpful. When it comes to preventing Oxidative Stress, every precaution must be taken. Using antioxidants can significantly slow down skin aging.
Wait for fall to follow this tip. If you have been extra careful, probably summer hasn’t damaged your skin a bit, but it sounds very unlikely. Usually, after summer we find out that our complexion is uneven and our skin drier than normal. So, fall is a great time to go for a facial, enjoy a soft peel to renew your skin and fade those dark spots.
Once in a while, especially if you are a beach addict, it is recommended to visit your dermatologist and get a full-body exam. Your doctor will examine your moles and marks and see how they evolve over time, in this way you will know how careful you should be with sun exposure, according to your specific skin condition. Knowing that you are melanoma-free will make you feel safer and enjoy more the summer. Moreover, keeping those moles in check will prevent having problems in this regard in the future.
Staying in sweaty or wet clothes for a long time creates a bacteria-friendly microenvironment. It can cause skin rashes or even lead to a skin condition called folliculitis, in which the skin follicles get infected and cause inflammation and red pimples around the follicle. Preventing folliculitis is as easy as changing and washing your clothes after sweaty physical activity.
Wherever you are – in a hotel or VERBO or family house make sure what touches your skin is clean
When you travel, enjoying the beach, hiking or roaming a new city but try NOT to touch your skin, squeeze your pimples or scratch your imperfections. You will bring dirt to your pores, bacteria to your skin and trouble to your face and body.
If you wear makeup- try to go easier and lighter in the summer. Water base foundation or just a dash of the powder may be much easier on your already burdened skin.