Here Comes the Sun: Five Important Sun Safety Tips

After what feels like forever, it’s officially summer. Here in Chicagoland, the temperatures are already reaching for the nineties, and it’s only going to get hotter from here. Of course, the heat typically sends us to one of two places: the comfort of our air-conditioned homes, or to the beach for a cooling dip in the lake.

We might love the sun, but the sun certainly doesn’t love us back. Exposure to the sun can cause wrinkles, age spots, and is the #1 cause of skin cancer. According to this Web MD article, sun exposure causes many of our skin’s changes that we assume is a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin, called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place. So, while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, there’s no question that it will show later in life.

Now, we don’t say these things to scare you, but we do want you to be aware more than anything about the effect the sun can have on your skin. Nothing that you can do will ever undo damage caused by too much sun, but it’s never too late to begin protecting yourself. Here are our five tips for summer sun care:

1. Apply sunscreen early and often. As luxurious as those tanning oils may look, you will need a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and be sure to apply it at least thirty minutes before sun exposure and for every two hours after, especially if you are sweating or swimming. Arbonne’s BefoRE Sun Damage Control Water Resistant Sunscreen is SPF 30 and it includes a premium sunscreen ingredient, Parsol® 1789. It also helps prevent sunburn by preserving maximum SPF even after 40 minutes of activity in the water.

2. UV protection with your makeup. Select cosmetics and skincare products that offer UV protection. Both FC5 Day Lotions from Arbonne as well as the Revelage Age Spot Brightening Hand Therapy contain SPF 20 and SPF 30 sunscreen, respectively, so you’re protected even when you’re not at the beach.

3. When possible, wear protective clothing. We understand that it’s hard to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when it’s ninety degrees out, but try to cover your skin as much as possible. Even a wide-brimmed hat while you’re at the beach can do wonders for sun protection (and they’re stylish, too!).

4. Know your peak sun exposure hours. The sun’s rays are the strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so if you can, plan to stay indoors or in the shade for those four hours.

5. Become familiar with your skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) suggests that everyone practice monthly head-to-toe skin examinations so that they can be aware of anything new or out-of-the-ordinary. The SCF website is a great resource if you’re wondering about what to look for and what might be considered an early warning sign of skin cancer.

These tips may seem like no-brainers, but when it comes to sun protection and awareness, every little bit of advice helps. Enjoy the summer, but make sure you “practice safe sun”!