How to take care of your skin during the hot summer months

Summer is a time when family members spend a lot of time outdoors, at the beach, park, hiking, camping, and fishing. You name it, there are plenty of outdoor activities that will keep you outdoors for hours on end during the summer months.

Stay hydrated: It is extremely important to keep your skin and body properly hydrated. Drinking 8-8 ounces of water throughout the day is one way to hydrate your skin. This will prevent damage and help detoxify your body.

Cover up: Cover your face and areas most exposed to the sun. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses whenever possible, and cover your arms and legs.

Protect: Sunscreen is your best friend on those days when you spend several hours in the sun. Apply sunscreen before going outdoors and reapply it every two hours in the sun. Use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to help block harmful UV rays.

Prevent premature aging: UV rays cause premature skin aging. Some signs include wrinkles, brown spots, and rough, dull skin. UV rays strip the top layer of skin which can lead to inflammation, producing reactive oxygen molecules that slow the growth of healthy skin cells and destroy the body’s ability to naturally produce collagen and elastin.

wetting: Since exposure to the sun can thin the skin over time, it is important to use a moisturizer daily. Using a natural moisturizer will help keep the skin healthy by providing it with the nutrients it needs to fight off damage caused by the sun and other environmental elements such as snow and wind.

It is important to protect your eye area because the skin around this area is delicate and will thin faster when exposed to harsh conditions. Use eye cream around this area daily to make sure it stays moisturized. An eye cream that contains natural ingredients will work better and won’t cause more damage to the skin.

natural products: It helps to use skin care products that contain vitamins C and E to work with sunscreen to prevent damage. Vitamins C and E give you an extra boost of antioxidants to fight free radicals and will help reverse damage caused by the sun.

Remember that some sun exposure is good because it will provide your body with essential vitamin D, but limit your sun exposure to 15-minute periods before 10:00 AM and after 2:00 PM.

To keep your skin healthy, drink plenty of water each day, limit the amount of time you spend in the sun each day, use a high SPF sunscreen, reapply every two hours, and use a natural moisturizer and eye cream to delay signs of aging and help your skin stay healthy.