After a long, cold winter, the warm temperatures of summer are a welcome relief. The sunshine and warmth can help boost your mood and energy levels. While summer can be a wonderful time of the year to enjoy the brightness outdoors, it is not always great for our skin.
When the skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays, the body produces melanin, a pigment that gives colour to the skin. Melanin acts as a natural defence mechanism to protect the skin from further UV damage, resulting in a tan. However, it is important to remember that a tan damages the skin, which can lead to premature ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. Also, the heat and humidity of summer can cause the skin to produce more oil, leading to clogged pores and acne breakouts. So, it is crucial to protect your skin from the sun to prevent tanning and to treat it, if you have already got yourself tanned.
The Channel 46 caught up with Prachi Bhandari, Co-Founder of Aminu Skincare, who shares skincare tips to prevent and remove summer sun tan.
1. Use A Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen
It is important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
It is important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and can cause long-term damage, such as premature ageing and skin cancer.
2. Wear Protective Clothing
Did you know that a tightly-woven cotton shirt has an SPF of only 5, while a dark-coloured, long-sleeved denim shirt has an SPF of about 1,700?
Covering up with clothing like long-sleeved shirts and pants is another effective way to protect your skin from the sun. Clothing made from tightly-woven fabrics offers better protection than loose, lightweight clothing. Did you know that a tightly-woven cotton shirt has an SPF of only 5, while a dark-coloured, long-sleeved denim shirt has an SPF of about 1,700?
3. Exfoliate Gently & Regularly
An increase in temperature and humidity level can leave your skin feeling oilier than usual, which is why exfoliating your skin in summer is vital. Exfoliating helps you get rid of dead skin cells and excess sebum that could end up clogging your pores, resulting in acne.
4. Hydrate
Drinking plenty of water is important for overall health and can also help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
5. Moisturise
Using an antioxidant-based, lightweight moisturiser can help keep your skin soft and supple, which in turn can also help fight sun damage.
6. Avoid Hot Showers
Hot water can sap the natural moisture from your skin, leading to dryness and making it more prone to sun damage.
Hot water can sap the natural moisture from your skin, leading to dryness and making it more prone to sun damage. Instead, take lukewarm showers. However, a cold shower after sun exposure is no less than a saviour in soothing sunburned skin.
7. Treat & Prevent Sun Damage
When it comes to choosing a treatment serum to prevent and remove summer tan, it is important to look for ingredients like gallic acid and strong antioxidants that can prevent UV-induced DNA damage and repair your skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure.
8. Keep After-Sun Soothing Kit
Make sure you keep a few things handy, like mineral-water mist and a soothing serum to calm inflammation, redness, and irritation and cool your skin quickly in case you have got yourself sunburned.
It is easy to overheat your skin if you have been out in the sun. Make sure you keep a few things handy, like mineral-water mist and a soothing serum to calm inflammation, redness, and irritation and cool your skin quickly in case you have got yourself sunburned.
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