The sun can feel great on your skin, and a lot of people love to try to get a summertime tan. However, it takes just 15 minutes of sun exposure to damage your skin. Before heading out to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine, make sure you know how to protect your skin from the sun. Here are our top seven tips for sun protection:
1. Use Sunscreen Every Day
Sunscreen is your best defense against sun damage. You should apply sunscreen every time you head outside in order to protect your skin from the sun. Make sure you use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It should also have an SPF of at least 30 for effective sun protection. If you’re going to be sweating or in the water, make sure your sunscreen is water resistant. It’s important to note that sunscreen wears off, so you should reapply every two hours to keep your skin protected.
2. Wear Sun-Protective Clothing
Another great answer to the question of how to protect your skin from the sun is to wear clothes that can protect you from the sun’s UV rays. Tightly woven fabrics offer the best sun protection, as they let fewer rays through to your skin. Dark colors are better at protecting your skin than light colors. For optimal sun protection, choose long-sleeved shirts and long pants to limit the amount of skin exposed to the sun. There are even some clothes that are specifically designed to provide UV protection, such as some fishing and golf apparel.
3. Accessorize!
You can further protect your skin from the sun with accessories like hats and sunglasses. A wide-brim hat provides your face, ears, and neck with shade. Hats made from tightly woven fabrics such as canvas are best for sun protection. Try to avoid straw hats since they’re full of holes that let the sun’s rays through. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around them from sun exposure. You’ll want to look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays for the best protection. Wrap-around sunglasses are best because they block these rays from entering on the sides as well.
4. Seek Shade
If you want to know how to protect your skin from the sun while still enjoying the warm weather, then you should consider seeking shade during your time outdoors. Shade keeps you out of direct sunlight and can reduce your risk of sun damage. Find an umbrella, shady tree, tent, or other shade structure to sit under. Keep in mind, however, that shade does not provide complete protection from the sun, so make sure you still use sunscreen or wear protective clothing to protect your skin.
5. Use Self-Tanner
It’s tempting to sit out in the sun to get that much-sought-after summertime glow. . Instead of laying out to get a tan, you could use a self-tanner. A self-tanner can help you get that sun-kissed glow without spending too much time in the sun. There are a number of self-tanning lotions and foams that can be used daily to achieve the shade you want.
6. Choose Makeup with SPF
There are a lot of makeup products out there that offer SPF, including foundation, eyeshadow, blush, lip balm, moisturizer, and more. Incorporating these products into your daily makeup routine can add another layer of protection for your skin. These products are not a substitute for sunscreen, but they can help protect your skin on a daily basis. It’s especially important to use a lip balm with SPF, as the sensitive skin on your lips doesn’t typically get much protection from the sun.
7. Check Your Medications
Something you may not have considered when thinking about how to protect your skin from the sun is your medications list. Some medications have a side effect of increased skin sensitivity to the sun. These medications can make your skin more susceptible to damage when exposed to UV rays. Antibiotics, antihistamines, antidepressants, NSAIDs, and retinoids are some of the most common medications that may cause sun sensitivity. Check with your pharmacist to see if any of your medications have the risk of increased skin sensitivity. If so, make sure you minimize your exposure to the sun and take extra precautions to protect your skin from the sun.
Talk to a Pharmacist About How to Protect Your Skin From the Sun
If you want advice on how to protect your skin from the sun, our expert pharmacists can help. We can answer your questions about whether your medications may cause skin sensitivity to sunlight, and we can also recommend sun protection products that will help protect your skin from damage. Contact us at Moore’s Compounding Pharmacy to speak with an expert pharmacist about your questions and concerns. We look forward to seeing you soon!
