For many of us, summer is all about spending time outdoors, whether it’s at the beach, next to the pool, or even heaving up one of South Africa’s beautiful hiking trails.
Now, spending time outside is great for your physical and mental health, but you should always take precautions when it comes to your skin, especially because we’ve all likely experienced a bad sunburn at some point or another.
Protect Yourself Against A Fiery Sunburn
Sunburns are painful, and dangerous, and they increase your risk of developing skin cancer. But wait, there’s more. The sun’s UV rays are also responsible for the formation of lines and wrinkles, accelerated ageing, hyperpigmentation and skin DNA damage.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t step outside. Rather, you just need to do it responsibly. So, where to start?
Our good friends at Lamelle Research Laboratories have identified five important things to do this summer to avoid getting burnt.
1. Try to avoid the sun during peak hours
Between 10 am and 2 pm, the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest, so it’s best to limit your exposure during these hours. Try to schedule your walks and swims for the early morning or the afternoon.
2. Cover up when you go outside
Invest in a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a kaftan or wrap to wear when you get out of the water, and try to cover up as much of your skin as possible.
3. Reapply your sun protection product regularly
By now, you know that it is essential to wear a good quality SPF product all year round, even during winter. That’s because the sun’s UVA rays (the ones responsible for accelerated ageing) can damage your skin even when it is overcast.
During summer, once a day is not enough. If you are spending time outdoors, you need to reapply your product after every swim (even if it says “water-resistant” on the packaging) or after every hour or two, depending on your skin type. Not only will this help avoid a painful burn, but it will also help prevent the formation of hyperpigmentation and signs of ageing.
4. Don’t forget the hidden spots
Most of us don’t take the time to apply SPF to all the smaller parts of our bodies, such as our ears, hairline, or feet. Take care to apply your SPF all over – even in the areas you think won’t be exposed. After all, the ears are one of the most common places for skin cancer to form.
5. Moisturise – even if your skin isn’t dry
The sun has a dehydrating effect on the skin, and if you’re spending lots of time outside, you may notice your skin getting drier. Don’t wait for your skin to become extremely dry before you moisturise – hydrated skin is healthier, plumper, and looks younger. Apply moisturiser to your face twice a day (even on hot days) and at least once a day on your body to keep your skin healthy, happy and strong.
Which sun protection product is best?
There are a lot of different sun care products on the market, so knowing what to look for in a product goes a long way in keeping your skin protected.
One of the most important things to look out for, is a broad-spectrum product, meaning it protects the skin from both UVA rays (the rays responsible for skin ageing) and UVB rays (the rays responsible for sunburn).
Look for a sunscreen containing antioxidants, as this will help increase your skin’s resistance to the formation of hyperpigmentation and will also protect skin from the harmful free radicals responsible for accelerated skin ageing.
Lamelle has two very powerful sun protection products available – each one unique in its capabilities. The Helase 50+ or Helase Urban Defense can each protect your skin from sunburn as well as from DNA damage, dark marks and accelerated signs of ageing caused by the sun.
Lamelle Helase 50+
Retailing for R600.00, this is the ultimate upgrade from your everyday SPF 50.
Helase 50+ protects against the full spectrum of sunlight, while the super-antioxidant Pycnogenol® destroys harmful free radicals to decrease the number of harmful enzymes that cause thinning and sagging of the skin. On top of this, it decreases the damaging and ageing inflammation in the skin, while actively stopping the effects of aging on the skin and keeping the immunity of the skin intact when exposed to sunlight.
Lamelle Helase Urban Defense
For R585.00, the Lamelle Helase Urban Defence 30 is a multi-functional broad-spectrum photo-protector that helps reduce the impact of urban pollution. Potent antioxidants reduce ageing, inflammation and hyperpigmentation. Suitable for all skin types. Key ingredients include UVA and UVB filters that protect against radiation. They also protect against Visible Light, which can cause pigmentation in darker skin types.
Bottom line
Sun protection allows you to enjoy the best of summer without compromising the health of your skin. Be extra vigilant this season and enjoy healthier, happier skin.
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