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Friday, May 22, 2009
by Skincare-news.com team
A day at the beach may be sand, surf and seashore, but it’s also planning, packing and protecting. Don’t just toss a bottle of sunscreen in your bag and think that’s enough. Skin needs proper protection from all the elements — not just the sun. Here’s how to protect your skin.
Saltwater and chlorine
Between splashing in the pool and lounging on the beach, skin comes into contact with many harsh, drying agents — particularly saltwater and chlorine. These can leave skin feeling dry and tight. That’s because, chlorine zaps moisture from your skin and can cause irritation, explains Dr. Leilah Ettefagh on Everyday Health. Plus, it can contribute to wrinkles and other signs of aging. According to iVillage, chlorine may even lead to acne outbreaks.
Here’s what you can do to minimize dryness and damage:
- Apply lotion before you swim. This creates a water-resistant barrier that protects skin from chlorine.
- Keep skin cool and hydrated at the beach or pool. Replenish lost moisture with Dr. Copeland Skin Hydrating Mist, a lightweight hydrator made from mineral-free, triple distilled water.
- Rinse saltwater and chlorine off the skin as soon as possible after swimming, using a public poolside or beach hose.
- Shower at home with an effective body wash. Try Molton Brown Cassia Energy Sport Hair and Body Wash, which is enriched with cassia, lemon, lime and anti-chlorinating agents.
- Follow your bath or shower with lotion right away to lock in moisture and counteract the chlorine’s drying effects. To soothe sensitive, dry skin, check out ATOPALM MLE Body Lotion.
Little buggers
From mosquitoes to bees to sand fleas, bug bites are more common in the summer than any other time of the year. And just like you, these critters like the beach and pool, too!
To keep bugs at bay:
- Avoid wearing heavily-scented body lotions or fragrances, which can attract bugs. Instead, opt for unscented body products, such as Jack Black Sun Guard Spray Sunscreen SPF 25, a unique three-in-one formula that repels bugs with natural citronella and spearmint. Plus, it protects from sun damage.
- Burn a L’Occitane Citrus Verbena Perfumed Candle to keep the night-time air bug-free. Scented with pure lemongrass essential oil, this fragrant candle perfumes the air and drives away mosquitoes.
If you’ve already been bitten or stung, KidsHealth suggests the following:
- Keep the area clean with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Use ice packs, cold washcloths and ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain. Before giving these medications to a child, check with the pediatrician first.
- Apply calamine lotion or cortisone cream to alleviate itching. Taking oral antihistamines is another option. Again, ask a doctor before giving antihistamines to a child.
Strong sun
UV rays are the strongest during the summer months. So, it’s especially important to apply sunscreen scrupulously to all exposed areas. UV rays can cause premature aging, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer.
To arm yourself against UV rays:
- Don’t use the same old sunscreen you’ve had in your medicine cabinet since last season. Like other products, the active ingredients in sunscreen and sunblock have a shelf life and will expire. Check the date before using.
- Toss any expired products at the beginning of beach season, not the end, advises Kelly L. Phillips in Ladies’ Home Journal. Buy a fresh bottle. Sunscreens are available in a variety of formulas. From fruit extracts to advanced chemical compositions, sunscreen is no longer the sticky, white paste of the past.
- Watch the clock. Slather on your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours or sooner if you’re swimming, sweating or toweling off.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Take to the shade during peak sun hours – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m — and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
After burn
If your skin did get burned, a little TLC is the ideal way to soothe and restore:
- Apply lotion to hydrate the skin. Pay close attention to the neck, hands, ears, shoulders and feet, which often get overlooked.
- Restore comfort to sunburned skin with a deeply-hydrating gel mask, such as Babor After Sun Soothing Mask. It contains green tea and sea buckthorn oil, an herbal ingredient that minimizes sunburn side effects.
- Take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain.
- Skip hot baths or showers. Instead, try a warm or cool bath, and sprinkle in some baking soda or oatmeal to soothe the skin.
See also:
Indoor Tanning: Safety Facts
Curl Power: Managing Your Mane
Maintain Fabulous Skin on Your Flight
Skincare 101: Oily Skin
Treating Sun Spots with Lightening Products
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A: Physical effects of sunburn may be harder to spot on darker skin. Any noticeable change in skin tone, redness, irritation or sensitivity indicates that you’ve spent too long outside. Here’s another way to tell: When pressed, sunburned skin turns white, and then quickly turns red due to capillaries filling with blood.
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A: Yes, notes Fran Cook-Bolden, M.D., dermatology professor at Columbia University, in Prevention. A sunburn damages your skin, which makes it more vulnerable to further burns. So, be especially diligent about avoiding the sun and wearing extra sunscreen if you’re burned.
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A: Absolutely! Even though the skin on the bottom of your feet is thicker, it can still burn. Apply sunscreen thoroughly to your feet or wear shoes when outside for protection.
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A: It can, when chlorine comes into contact with leaves and dirt, according to holistic health expert Andrew Weil, M.D. He writes in Prevention that when organic matter, like leaves and dirt, combines with chlorine, “they can form other toxic substances called trihalomethanes, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, miscarriage and birth defects.” There are alternatives to chlorine.
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