Few things are as fun as spending a day outdoors. But when you protect your skin from the sun the right way, you can enjoy the outdoors even more! Here’s a quick look at the 5 best ways to keep your skin healthy and protected during your next adventure!
1. Use sunscreen.
This is the most common way to stay protected from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Although these UV rays help your body produce vitamin D, they can also burn your skin if you stay in the sun too long. Repeated long-term sun exposure can also cause early aging and even skin cancer.
That’s why skin care professionals recommend using broad-spectrum, water-proof sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This number means that only 1/30th (or about 3 percent) of the sun’s rays can hit your skin. Just remember to apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every two hours.
2. Wear the right clothes.
Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts probably doesn’t sound ideal for the outdoors. But these can protect your skin from the sun quite well, especially if they’re denser. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reports that compared to a white t-shirt, which has an SPF of around 7, a long-sleeve denim shirt has an SPF of about 1,700!
Consider also staying dry, wearing darker colors, and wearing clothes that have a ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label. UPF is for fabric what SPF is for sunscreen. The higher numbers generally protect you the best, although not everyone needs a higher number.
3. Wear the right hat.
Not all hats protect you equally. If you can’t decide which to wear, pick the one with the widest brim. This will give your nose, neck, eyes, and ears a break from the UV rays. It will also lessen your risk of skin cancer, which appears most often on your nose.
Pay attention to the color and fabric of the hat as well. That’s because the same rule for clothing applies to hats: the darker and denser, the more protection. Certain hats also come with UPF ratings, so be sure to check the hat’s label for a higher UPF number.
4. Wear the right sunglasses.
Along with potentially damaging your cornea and lens, too much sunlight can also cause certain types of eye growths, cataracts, and even eye cancer. When you’re looking for a great pair of sunglasses, ask your eye doctor or optician about those with 100% UV protection.
5. Find some shade.
Did you know that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM? This means that you need to be extra careful if you’re outdoors between these times. Along with wearing the right sunscreen, clothing, and sunglasses, finding some good shade to rest under will help keep harmful sunlight away.
It’s also important to remember that UV rays can pass through clouds, water, and windows. So don’t think that you can’t get sunburned if it’s a cloudy day or if you’re under water, because you can!
Keep your skin healthy and looking great.
Don’t let UV rays keep you from enjoying the outdoors. Contact Elevation Med Spa at Conway OB-GYN today at (501) 327-7484 to learn more about how to protect your skin from the sun. You can also submit this form to request an appointment for customized skin care treatment with Elevation Med Spa.
