Summer is finally here! Lazy days at the beach, pool parties, and
ball games. Summer is so much fun.

So, go ahead and enjoy the outdoors ‘til your heart is content. Just remember to take care of your skin by giving it the nutrients and protection it needs.

Sun Exposure: The Good News and Bad News

The sun isn’t as evil as some
make it out to be. Here’s the good news about sun exposure. It:

• Boosts vitamin D

• Reduces blood
  pressure

• Improves heart health

• Improves mood by
  releasing endorphins and serotonin, aka “The Happy
  Hormone”

• Reduces chronic pain

As you can see, these benefits aren’t just skin deep because they affect the health of your bones, heart functioning, and inflammation.

But, now for the bad news, too much sun can:

• Lead to harmless patches of dark skin called solar lentigines

• Cause carcinoma and
  melanoma (skin cancer)

• Damage our skin cells

UV radiation bombards our planet. The skin is affected by UVA and UVB radiation. UVA radiation penetrates the skin, while UVB radiation damages the DNA indirectly. But one of the most noticeable consequences of unhealthy sun exposure is rapidly aging skin.

The 5 Best Ways to Protect Your Skin from Unhealthy Sun Exposure

We don’t have to avoid the sun. We may still enjoy summer fun as long as we protect our skin. Here are the five best ways to nourish and protect your skin this summer.

1. Use SPF lotion or cream. Make sure to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and apply it at least 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going out into the sun to adequately protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays; use it every single day and not just when going swimming.

2. Try to avoid or limit exposure from 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the sun’s rays are most intense. And check the news for the UV index to know how much skin-damaging UV radiation is reaching the earth.

3.  Enjoy the shade. Avoid too much time in direct sunlight. If you don’t have a choice and there’s no shade, wear long sleeves, pants, a hat, and sunglasses. Remember to protect your neck, too.

4.  Drink water because it helps to moisturize the skin in hot weather. Moisturize your skin after being out in the sun to help reduce dry patches.

5.  Visit a dermatologist regularly. A dermatologist is essential for keeping your skin healthy and avoiding damage, and for detecting skin cancer early. In fact, according to skincancer.org, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States each year than all other cancers combined.

The sun can be a friend or foe, but you can have fun in the sun as long as you remember to nourish and protect your skin by following these five best practices.

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