Protect Your Skin

Gone are the days of baby oil, sun reflectors and tanning accelerators.  What’s ‘in vogue’ today is to take care of and protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. And it's never too late to start!

With the dog days of summer upon us, it is particularly important to take good care of your skin.  You don’t have to avoid the sun completely to protect yourself (that would be no fun!), but there are a number of tips that can help you achieve safer sunning.  Here are a few:

Slather your skin.  Experts recommend broad-spectrum products with SPFs of at least 15.  Apply 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply regularly.

Pull out your shades. Sunglasses can help to protect your eyes from sun damage.  The ideal sunglasses don’t need to be expensive, but they should block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation.  Also, large-framed wraparound sunglasses are best because they protect your eyes from all angles.

Sport a hat.  A hat with at least a 3-inch brim all around is best because it protects areas often exposed to the sun, such as your neck, ears, scalp and eyes.

Cover up.  Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, pants or long skirts as much as possible when in the sun. Tightly weaved cloth is best.

Take a sun break.  The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 am – 3 pm.  Try not to spend a lot of time outside, unprotected, during those hours.

 Enjoy your time in the sun – just do so wisely and safely!  Your skin will thank you!