Totally get it; when it comes to summer, we all want to have every part of our skin to soak up the sun (take a cue from Sheryl Crow’s summer bops) and while there’s nothing wrong with it, you need to be sure to give your skin the attention and protection it deserves, to avoid any sun damages to it. Here’s why.
How Sun Ray Exposure Affects Your Skin
We are talking about the UV rays emitted by the sun that can penetrate your skin because there’s nothing good coming out of it. According to Harvard Health Publications, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation will dry out and causes burning to the skin, while in the long run, changing the internal structure underneath it.
Such damages include dry skin (loosing out moisture and sebum on the surface) and making it itchy and flaky regardless of age; sunburn that causes your skin to painfully reddish, and you get develop blisters if the skin is severely exposed under the sun. And the worst effect is your skin develop a condition known as actinic keratosis, where red or brownish tiny bumps and/or scaly patch that won’t go away and require special treatment from a dermatologist.
And this is the start of a warning sign that you have an increased risk to develop skin cancer, as up to 15% the condition will change into malignant skin cancers, underneath the skin.
Other slow, but equally damaging to the skin include major changes in the skin’s network of collagen which they start to crumble a bit; bleeding from tiny blood vessels underneath the skin (you can see the blotchy spots), as well as premature aging effects, where your skin will develop spots, pigmentations, and wrinkles.
Repeated exposure and effects from the skin that are exposed to UV rays will increase your risk to develop various forms of skin cancer, especially if you don’t repair and reverse it from the first moments when the photodamage happens. And the risk is greater if you have fair skin, as lacking in melanin to provide slight protection for your skin.
Now we know why dermatologists have been telling us to load up sunscreen for years.
What Can You Do About It?
Prevention is the key. Using a good amount of sunscreen and applying them regularly (especially if you’re planning to stay outdoors for periods) are essential to prevent any UV rays from getting into your skin. As a general guide, opt for a sunscreen that provides full protection, covering both UVA and UVB rays.
It’s also a good idea to use products that are infused with their SPFs especially in summer. Lip balms, moisturizers, BB creams, foundations, and even your sunglasses nowadays include SPF in their formula, so you can double up the protection. Even if the value in these products is not much compared to sunscreen, at least it’s better than nothing, right?
Limit yourself under the sun and stay indoors when the sun rays are the most intense (usually at 11 am to 3 pm) and wear covered clothing as much as you can, limiting that hot, summer bikinis for a special occasion.
With a good dose of sun protection habits, who says we can’t enjoy the summer sun now?