Tips for Healthy Summer Skin

Summer is making its way across the country and if you've been cooped up, waiting for the sun, now is the time to get outside! Before you head out into the sun, however, make certain you take care of your skin to assure that it isn't ruined by the summer sun.

Here are our top tips for healthy summer skin:

• Before you leave the house, make certain you have covered your skin in a strong SPF. Even if you're going to be spending your day driving around in a car, you need to protect your exposed skin. The sun's rays on unprotected skin can lead to premature aging or skin cancer.
• Don't forget to protect your lips with a moisturizing lip balm with a SPF of at least 25. Lips are extremely sensitive to the sun and can easily become chapped or sunburned.
• Wear your sunglasses. If you don't want to wear sunglasses, protect your eyes from the sun with a wide brimmed hat. If your eyes are unprotected, it can not only lead to wrinkles and crow's feet but cataracts. In addition to protecting your eyes, a wide-brimmed hat will also protect your sensitive ears.
• Stay hydrated. It's great to wear moisturizers, but you also need to hydrate your body so you don't become dehydrated. If you're outside and sweating, dehydration can happen rapidly. Caffeinated drinks can also lead to dehydration so stick with water.
• For sun-kissed skin, some individuals opt to visit a tanning salon and take advantage of the tanning bulbs to get themselves a "base tan." Others choose self tanning lotions to address pale skin before they hit the beach.
• Check your medicine. Many medications - prescription and over the counter - can cause sun sensitivity issues.
• Choose your sunning times wisely. The sun is at its most intense during the hours of noon to 4 pm. Spend your time outside during the morning or early evening hours. You will still reap the benefits of the sun without drying out your skin.
• Sunburn happens. No matter how well you've applied sun protection lotion you can still suffer a sunburn. If this happens make certain you apply moisturizer liberally to prevent peeling skin and repair the damage.
• If you're an avid swimmer, make certain you shower as soon as you get out of the water, especially if you're in salt water or a chlorinated swimming pool. You'll want to clean the chlorine off your skin because chlorine can dry your skin out.

Common sense - and a liberal coating of moisturizer and sun screen - will let you enjoy the sun without fear of skin damage.