Your Lifestyle
Love your Sun-kissed Skin this Summer Deborah Monshin
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ummer's nearly here! We're all looking forward to getting out and enjoying the sunshine. Whether you walk, bike, swim, kayak, or lay on the beach getting a tan, it's vital to protect your skin. It's easy to forget that our skin takes time to acclimatise to the sun, especially if those lillywhite legs have been hiding in trousers all winter. Even if you are blessed with quick tanning skin, all skin types need to be protected.
Enjoying the sunshine means you need to take unnatural measures to keep your skin safe, and using sunscreen or sunblock is the best way to stay protected if you are active outdoors.
After Exposure to the sun:
Before Exposure to the sun: Sunscreen/sunblock: adds a barrier to the skin to reduce harmful rays from damaging the skin. Nothing protects your skin one hundred percent, so don't be complacent. Reapply as instructed, particularly if you are in and out of the water. And do consider taking a break in the shade if you can.
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UVA light is associated with premature ageing of the skin. UVB light is associated with sunburn and damage to the skin. Protection against both is crucial.
Moisturiser: always shower off seawater or chlorinated water before applying a rich hydrating moisturiser. Apply overnight for extra hydration. Ooops – I've burned! Sunburn is severe dehydration of the skin. Sunburn is serious, as it may kick-start skin cancer. Being sensible is always the safest option, but if the worse happens, treat it as soon as you can. Aloe Vera Gel is the best natural product for burns. Its cooling properties instantly soothe. Keep applying the gel until it stops soaking in. Slather on another layer, which will create a seal on
top of your own skin, adding extra protection. Aloe Vera replaces moisture lost by over-exposure to the sun. It's always a good idea to keep an Aloe Vera plant in the kitchen for any burns. If you are away from home, go for a natural, unscented Aloe Vera Gel. One aspect you may not have considered is the harm that a cheap moisturiser or sunscreen/sunblock can do. Your skin is your largest organ, and it's the most porous part of your body. Everything you put on your skin enters your bloodstream. That's a scary thought. Some cheap skincare products contain ingredients that you really don't want to be absorbing.
Roots of Life Wellness Magazine www.therootsoflife.co.uk
