Now that summer is well and truly here, a lot of us are spending much more time outdoors. You’re probably enjoying sitting in the garden or local park, walking from A to B to soak up the sun, and you might even be lucky enough to be heading off on a holiday or two. Though the sun is one of the best bits about summer, it can be harmful to your skin, which is why looking after your skin in the sun is key. Otherwise, you run the risk of irreversible sun damage and fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and premature ageing.
It is important to take care of your skin in the sun due to the potential harmful effects of UV radiation. This can cause sunburn, premature ageing, wrinkles and increase the risk of skin cancer. By practising proper sun protection, such as applying suncream and seeking shade, you can minimise the damaging effects of the sun on your skin. Taking care of your skin in the sun helps maintain its health, youthful appearance and it reduces the risk of long term skin damage. However, it’s impossible to avoid the damage caused by the sun completely, but PlasmaPen is always there to help.
But, do you know what summer skincare should entail? Do you know which sun cream you should be using or how hydrated you need to be? Below, we have taken a look at what you should be doing in the summer months to look after your skin.
Use Suncream
One of the most important parts of summer skincare is using suncream. You should apply it generously to all exposed skin – including areas that are easy to forget, such as your neck and ears – and reapply it every two hours. If you are sweating, exercising or swimming, you might need to reapply it more often. There are a variety of suncreams available, but make sure to choose one with a high SPF. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and it’s a measure of how effectively the suncream will protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays. We recommend choosing a suncream with an SPF of at least 30, but higher if you have fair skin or burn easily. Without suncream, your skin is unprotected.
Stay Hydrated
The sun can hugely dehydrate your skin, which can leave it looking anything but its best. It can cause skin to look dry, tight and dull. This is why it’s important to drink plenty of water when you are out in the sun, especially if the weather is warm. Not only is staying hydrated good for your overall health – dehydration can cause headaches, a lack of focus and low energy levels – but it helps your skin to protect itself from the sun. Good hydration helps to ensure your skin stays healthy and elastic, which helps to combat the signs of premature ageing and sun damage.
Seek Shade
When the sun is shining, it’s tempting to immediately head outside and basque in it. This could mean sunbathing or taking a long walk, which puts you in direct sunlight. Even popping to the shops, doing the school run and sitting in a pub garden is time spent in direct sunlight. This can be detrimental to the health of your skin. It’s hard to seek shade at all times, but you should factor seeking as much shade as possible into your summer skincare plans. Instead, relax indoors or undercover wherever possible. This is especially important during peak sun hours, which is between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun’s rays are the strongest. This reduces your exposure to harmful UV radiation considerably. Under shade, you can enjoy the summer sunshine, knowing that your skin is protected.
Use Aftersun
If you do burn, it’s important to take action quickly by applying aftersun. Aftersun products are formulated to provide relief and nourishment to the skin after sun exposure. They often contain ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, or cucumber extracts, which have soothing and cooling properties. This can help alleviate sunburn, redness and discomfort caused by excessive sun exposure. As sun exposure can dehydrate the skin, aftersun is designed to hydrate and moisturise, which helps to restore lost moisture and prevent skin from becoming overly dry and tight. Aftersun also contains antioxidants, vitamins and other beneficial ingredients that help repair and nourish the skin. It can support the skin’s natural healing process and minimise the damage caused by UV radiation, such as peeling and painful burns.
At PlasmaPen, we are passionate about ensuring that your skin – and our own! – is healthy, glowing and taken care of. This means making sure that we keep on top of summer skincare and protect our skin from the harmful rays. Even if you’re only going to be in the sun for a moment or two, make sure that your skin is well protected, as it only takes a minute or two for sunlight to cause lasting damage.
If you do feel as though your skin has been damaged by the sun – perhaps you only started paying attention to summer skincare recently, and a fair amount of damage has already been done – and you want to improve its appearance, consider having PlasmaPen treatment. PlasmaPen is able to achieve impressive results and really boost the appearance of skin, and this includes sun damage correction. To find out more about PlasmaPen and how sun damage correction works, get in touch with our helpful team of experts.
