Healthy Summertime Skin
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Summer is the time to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and soak up the warmth, but don’t sacrifice your skin to the sun! Casual exposure to the sun has a moderate beneficial impact to the body, including the production of vitamin D. However, excessive exposure to UV rays has detrimental health effects. These include possible sunburn, increased risk of skin cancer, depressed immune system function, and accelerated aging. If you plan to be in the sun, please consider these tips:
Tip #1: Exfoliate your skin prior to sunbathing.
Exfoliating your skin once a week is a good practice throughout the year, and most recommend exfoliating in the morning because your skin repairs itself at night. In the summertime, exfoliating before sunbathing will help you develop a more even tan. By not exfoliating beforehand, you are tanning over layers upon layers of dead skin cells. This can make your tan appear uneven and dull. In addition, you may not notice how quickly you are burning since dead skin cells are not as translucent.
Exfoliating also keeps your immune system healthy. As we tan our skin, we kill and harden the first layers of the dermis. Over time, the top layers act like a shell. Your immune system excretes metabolic toxins through your skin each day. That “shell” you’ve developed by tanning means your skin becomes less efficient at excreting toxins. Therefore, your immune system begins to work harder and harder to diminish the toxins. Come fall your fatigued immune system fails against seasonal viruses. The bottom line: exfoliating, although it may take a little time, is good for your skin. In the long run you will be healthier, and your skin will stay younger-looking longer.
Tip # 2: Use a gentle exfoliator.
While there are many products on the market for exfoliating, you can make your own at home. Organic unrefined (virgin or extra-virgin) cold pressed coconut oil with raw brown sugar is the easiest. Simply mix both into a smooth, glistening paste. You do not want the mixture to be too dry because it will be too harsh on your skin. You do not want the mixture to be too loose or fluid because then it will not remove multiple layers of dead skin. Ideally, the mixture should hold together paste-like but still have a sheen from the oil. Beverly recommends using sugar since it is less caustic to the skin than dead sea salt. Follow exfoliation immediately with a PH-balanced toner spritz and then a generous layer of coconut oil to hydrate. It’s important to repeat this process throughout the summer. If you neglect this vital exfoliation step, you’re setting yourself up for dry, itchy, flaky, dull skin come September.
Tip #3: Use good sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30!
Respect the sun’s effect on your skin. Think about how you may be over-exposing it to harmful UV rays. Sunburn is a serious matter. The long-term impact of repeated over-exposure and sunburn can mean premature aging and an increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma—the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Skin cancers can be avoided by protecting your skin while outside. You can choose physical barriers like long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses or topical barriers such as chemical or mineral sunscreens.
Using a sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s appearance and keep it healthy at any age. Using sunscreen regularly helps prevent sunburn and premature aging. John Hopkin’s recommends a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you’re in the sun daily, they recommend an SPF of 60 or higher. Be generous with its application and be sure to apply it evenly. You will want to reapply sunscreen periodically during the day—about every two hours—especially after swimming or sweating.
Tip #4: Hydrate!
If you plan to be outside and, in the sun, don’t forget water. Not soda, not alcohol, not caffeinated drinks — water. Water is the only thing that hydrates your skin efficiently. Not even juice is as hydrating to the body as water. So, if you plan to be by the pool with a “little umbrella drink” or at a BBQ for some fun in the sun, drink eight ounces of water for every four ounces of alcohol or caffeinated beverage.
If you’re asking, “What about coconut water?” … There’s no scientific evidence to support that coconut water is more hydrating than plain water. Coconut water, however, is very hydrating and it contains potassium which is important to maintaining fluid inside our cells. Unfortunately, coconut water is not really very tasty. So, you might just want to mix your coconut water with some berries or fruit pulp. For ideas for infusing plain or coconut water with fruits and herbs, explore the link below:
20 Infused Water Recipes to Keep You Hydrated - Insanely Good (insanelygoodrecipes.com)
One additional thought. Avoid over tanning. Nothing makes you look older than over-tanned skin. Over years of tanning, your skin will become hard, leathery, and dull in color. And it should. That is the skin’s natural defense to tanning. It darkens as the melanin rises to protect it from the UV rays. The pores diminish and collapse from dehydration. This makes your skin lose its elasticity, contributing to a look that is leather-like in appearance. The more years you tan, the harder it is to regain a supple skin appearance, and its ability to maintain a healthy immune system. I sincerely encourage you to take Beverly’s tips to healthy summertime skin to heart. Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Take good care of it.
