Save Your Skin in the Summer!!
Remember, the sun is bathing us in ionizing radiation each and every day.
Radiation leads to the formation of free radicals in our skin which damage our DNA. The result? Photo-aging, wrinkles, skin cancer, hyperpigmentation and redness.
We love the sun, but it doesn’t love us.
What can we do to fight free radicals?
Prevent them!!
Protect your skin with a full spectrum UVA/UVB mineral sunscreen. A tinted sunscreen also includes iron oxides which protect against the visible spectrum of light as well which is less damaging but does cause hyperpigmentation.
Stay in the shade as much as possible 10am to 3pm which radiation is highest.
Wear long sleeves and wear a hat.
Wear UVA/UVB sunglasses.
Take extra care in high altitudes or closer to the equator – the radiation is stronger. Short intense exposure sunburns are linked to increased melanoma risk (take care on those vacations!).
Mop up free-radicals with anti-oxidants!!
Using an anti-oxidant such as a Vitamin C and Vitamin E serum helps your skin sequester and isolate free radicals before they can do damage to your DNA.
Ferulic acid and niacinamide are also effective anti-oxidants and are often combined with sunscreen to boost their protective qualities.
Don’t run out of sunscreen!!
Purchase high quality pharmaceutical-grade sunblock for your face, neck, decolletage and hands. It’s worth using a sunblock with additional anti-oxidants and peptides because these areas are always exposed.
Buy volume mineral sunblock for your body because you’ll need it. It’s critical to reapply sunscreen when you sweat, swim and are active. Don’t skimp on covering large sun-exposed areas of your body – you need 1 tsp per body part of an 1/8 of cup for your full body. Any UVA/UVB mineral sunblock will do the trick. Some companies offer mineral sunblock in large format 1 litre bottles with a pump.
Chemical sunscreen for your body is fine but mineral is preferred. And only mineral should be used for children and babies.