How to Take Care of Your Skin In The Sun
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Reviewed by Jaimee Gooley, R.D. Written by Hannah Marchese |
Overview
Even though summer is over, we need to remember to take care of our skin properly, especially when it comes to sun protection. Most people only think of sun protection in the summer months, but it's important to protect your skin every day. Even in the winter or when it's cloudy, the sun can cause damage to your skin. The sun's rays can actually bounce off of reflective surfaces such as snow and water, increasing your risk of sunburn and sun damage. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to protect your skin from the sun. All you need is a good sunscreen and some protective clothing. You can also strengthen your skin internally, helping to protect it from free radical damage and sun damage. What you eat is extremely important for cell turnover, a strong skin barrier, and having skin that can heal itself from damage. Read on to learn how to take care of your skin in the sun!
Is the sun harmful for skin?
There is no debate amongst doctors and dermatologists- the sun can be extremely dangerous for your skin. There are a lot of negative effects that can occur from too much sun exposure. You can get sun spots, wrinkles, sunburn, and skin cancer. Some medications and skincare products (such as retinol) can make your skin extra sensitive to the sun, making it easier to burn. UVA rays are more likely to cause skin damage, such as wrinkles and premature aging, whereas UVB rays have a link to the development of skin cancer and melanoma. In order to effectively protect your skin, you must use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Something important to note: sun damage builds up over time. It doesn't happen overnight. Just because you're in your teens or 20's and have healthy-looking skin, the damage may be under the skin or building up little by little. The only way to prevent sun damage and limit your chances of skin cancer is by wearing sunscreen every single day and limiting your sun exposure.
How do I treat my skin after being in the sun?
First things first: start by drinking tons of water! This will help the entire body to hydrate and replenish itself after sweating and being in the sun. Then, you want to take care of your skin with a simple and hydrating skincare routine. Skincare products are the second most important way to prevent premature aging, age spots, and sun damage. Depending on your skin type, you can use a cleanser to remove sunscreen and any impurities from being outside. If you have a less sensitive skin type, you can also use an exfoliating product to remove dead skin and sunscreen buildup. Then, follow up with a moisturizer or hydrating lotion. If your skin is red or sunburned, you can also try using aloe vera to calm the skin. You can use store-bought aloe, or buy an aloe plant, cut it open, and place the aloe plant directly on your skin. Don't forget about your lips- they can get burnt as well. Try using a moisturizing lip balm to soothe and protect your lips. You can get other skincare tips from your dermatologist if you feel like this routine isn't sufficient for your skin type.
How can you protect your skin against sun damage?
Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy outside. The sun's rays can still penetrate through clouds. Whatever you do, do not use tanning beds. Not only will they age your skin more quickly, they greatly increase your risk of skin cancer. The best way to protect your skin against sun damage is by using sunscreen with a good SPF (typically higher than 30) and limiting your sun exposure to prevent sunburns, skin cancer, and sunspots. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that includes UVA and UVB protection. Sun protection can also include wearing a hat, long pants, or a long-sleeved shirt to hide your face and body from the sun's rays. Protective clothing is effective, but it might still be a good idea to put sunscreen on your face at the very least in case you have any exposed skin. Another way to protect your skin is to strengthen it from the inside out with your diet. This means eating foods and taking supplements that will improve barrier function and increase collagen production. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is formed through chains of amino acids that act as building blocks. Collagen is found in 70% of our skin. It's what gives skin elasticity and plumpness. As we age, our natural production begins to decline, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. Weak skin makes us more susceptible to sun damage. Collagen supplements are a great way to combat these issues, as they help to strengthen our skin and correct skin issues. Our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars contain 8 grams of marine collagen, which is the best collagen type for skin support. They also contain other beauty-boosting foods like sweet potato (containing vitamin A), and cocoa butter (containing polyphenols and flavonoids). The formula is designed to help absorb and retain collagen and can be a great way to support strong and healthy skin. Taking a collagen supplement daily can also help to improve your hyaluronic acid production, which is important for a few reasons. Some studies show that hyaluronic acid production increases when collagen peptides are taken daily. Collagen peptides help to improve barrier function, giving you a stronger epidermis that could help skin recover from dehydration and damage caused by UVB rays. Using collagen peptides may help skin recover from pathological changes and result in higher hyaluronic acid content. Some results suggest that dietary collagen peptides may protect the skin barrier from UVB damage. Therefore, you may see some seriously powerful results from taking a collagen supplement. You can also take supplements like vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Before taking supplements, try and get most of your nutrients through food if you can. Any food that is high in Vitamin C should definitely be in your diet. This vitamin plays a direct role in collagen synthesis, meaning it is involved in the creation of collagen in your skin. When applied topically and when high levels are in your body, it may help to prevent damage caused by UV rays. It also helps with the prevention of wrinkles and with the healing of wounded and dry skin. Foods that are high in Vitamin C include citruses, sweet yellow peppers, strawberries, and many leafy greens such as spinach. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A and filled with powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants build up your skin barrier to protect against free radicals, which can cause a lot of damage. This damage can occur in the form of discoloration, wrinkles, and other skin issues. By increasing your intake of these potent antioxidants, you can strengthen your skin so that it can defend itself against free radicals. As for vitamin A, it’s absolutely essential for cellular repair and tissue regrowth. This means it’s especially effective in healing the skin and allowing your skin to renew and repair its own cells and tissue. Due to this, your skin has a greater chance of protecting itself from UV damage.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274925/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocd.12174
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/protecting-your-skin-sun
