Self-Care While Self Quarantine
While we continue to face an unprecedented moment in history, one that feels scary and uncertain, it’s important to remember to take a deep breath and care for your own well-being.
Summertime in New England is a wonderful time of year, as we head outdoors to soak in the sunshine and revel in the warmer temperatures. But this season is a wolf in sheep’s clothing when it comes to your skin.
Not that scare tactics are a great way to kick off a conversation, but the fact is that one in five Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. And if that doesn’t get you to sit up and take action, the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun are enemy number one when it comes to prematurely aging your skin.
Here at Skin Serenity Medispa, our goal is to keep your skin in the pink of health year round, and preventive steps can go a long toward that goal. A few simple measures now will save you from some considerable frustration down the road as you try to undo any sun damage.
To that end, we’ve pulled together some summertime tips to keep the sun from wreaking havoc on your skin.
To protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, sunscreen is one of the best lines of defense. Whether the sun is out or not, the harmful rays can still make their way into your dermis and damage your skin cells and collagen fibers. Sun exposure also leads to areas of hyperpigmentation (sun spots) as your melanin clumps together.
Before you head out of doors, apply a layer of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 at the very least, though 30 is better. And you should reapply the sunscreen often throughout the day, especially if you’re sweating or getting in and out of water.
There’s no shortage of sunscreen options, and they’re made for every skin type. You can even do double duty with a body and face lotion that has sunscreen built in.
Even better than sunscreen is covering yourself up properly against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This holds especially true for the more sensitive skin around your face, which makes a hat and sunglasses (with UV protection) your best sun-protection tools.
As well, lightweight shirts and long dresses, skirts, or pants will keep the air flowing, but protect you against the sun. Choose darker, closely woven fabrics which deflect the sun better than lighter-colored fabrics that are loosely woven.
While sunscreen and covering up go along way toward protecting your skin, you’d do well to seek shade between the sun’s peak hours between 10am and 2pm — and avoiding the sun up until 4pm is even better. Plant yourself under an umbrella or tree and enjoy the warm summer temperatures without subjecting your skin to radiation.
While a day at the beach is one of the best ways to spend a summer day, remember that water can reflect the sun’s damaging rays. So even if you think you aren’t in the direct line of fire, you may still be damaging your skin.
And speaking of water, one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy is to drink plenty of water during the summer months — at least eight glasses (eight ounces each) a day.
If you still want to bring a little color to your skin with a healthy tan, why not try our spray tan? In less than an hour, we can make you look like you’ve spent a week at the shore. And the best part is that we aren’t damaging your skin in the process.
If you’d like more tips on keeping your skin healthy during the summer months, please call our Haverhill, Massachusetts, spa at (978) 226-3749 or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.
