Summertime Tips to Keep the Sun From Wreaking Havoc on Your Skin

The summer sun invites you to head outside and enjoy yourself. While fun in the sun feels great, your skin sustains damage from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. You don't have to hide from the sun to keep your skin safe. Just follow these tips for sun safety! At Rochester Laser and Wellness Center, we protect and care for the skin of patients in the Rochester Hills area, and we have the expertise you can rely on to keep your skin safe through the summer season.

Avoid harmful rays

UV exposure causes sunburn, along with redness, peeling, irritation, pain, and fever. UV also causes long-term problems like an increased risk of skin cancer and an increased appearance of aging over time. UV radiation is the top cause of skin cancer worldwide. Protect yourself from UV radiation by covering up, using sunscreen, and limiting your exposure to full-spectrum sunlight.

Stay covered

UV rays aren't completely blocked by clothing, but wearing a light-weight cover-up at the beach and using a wide-brimmed hat will go a long way toward keeping you safe from sun damage this summer. Pay attention to parts of your body that are most likely to be in direct sunlight when you're outdoors: upper back, shoulders, head, nose, ears, and chest.

Use the right sunscreen

You should also keep yourself covered with sunscreen! Even if you're just heading out for errands, a layer of sunscreen on your face and arms will do a lot to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. Sunscreen gives your skin limited protection from UV rays, so it's important to purchase the right product, and to remember to reapply as needed. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. 

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Higher SPF numbers mean more protection, but the scale isn't linear. An SPF 30 sunscreen will filter out about 97 percent of harmful UV radiation, while an SPF 100 filters out about 99 percent. Sunscreens below SPF 30 will protect you from sunburn, but not from the UV damage that leads to skin cancer. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours, especially if you've been swimming.

Limit your exposure

Don't linger in direct sunlight for too long, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the time of day when UV rays are strongest. Seek shade when possible and, for the rest of the year, avoid tanning beds and sun lamps, both of which contribute to UV-related skin damage.

Following these tips will keep your skin healthy through the summer season, the time of year when protecting your skin from sun damage is most critical. If you're concerned about your skin health, schedule a consultation with our team at Rochester Laser and Wellness Center. 

Dr. Thomas Nabity Jr. and the rest of our care team can support you in dealing with skin wellness issues and provide further guidance about damage prevention. Contact our office, conveniently located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, or book your appointment online.