In addition to being your body’s largest organ, your skin plays many important roles in keeping your body healthy.
It protects you from germs, regulates your temperature, helps maintain your immune system, allows you to feel objects, and supports most functions of your body. So caring for your skin means caring for your overall health.
During the summer, this can be difficult, with the risk of overexposure to UV rays and the damage it can do to your skin. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, with 1 in 5 Americans getting it by age 70.
Since most people want to go out and enjoy the sun, it’s vital to practice proper skin care to stay safe. Peach Skin and Laser has a variety of services to help improve and maintain quality skin care.
Here are some tips to protect your skin in the summer heat:
Wear sunscreen every day
Sunscreen is essential when you’re outside. It can protect against the UV rays that can prematurely age skin and cause cancer and sunburn.
A broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher provides the best results. You should reapply your sunscreen every two hours after swimming or sweating. A daily moisturizer containing sunscreen can also be helpful.
Use skin care for your skin type
It is very important to know what effect a skin care product will have on specific skin types, such as dry, oily, sensitive, normal, or combination skin.
Different parts of the body may also have different tendencies that are dependent on a number of factors. Skin complexion can also play a role in skin care.
Find shade whenever possible
As fun as it can be to soak up the summer sun, enjoying some shade can also help reduce UV exposure. Trees, umbrellas, awnings, and wide-brimmed hats can allow you enjoy the summer weather without the risks.
Wear loose clothing
Clothing with long sleeves that fits loosely will provide better circulation throughout your body and help protect your skin. Dark and bright-colored clothing work better than light colors to absorb UV rays, and clothing with a strong UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) are best for sun protection.
Avoid tanning beds
Tanning beds may seem like a quick way to get a desired skin tone, but they also amplify the amount of UV radiation your body gets, which increases the chances of sunburn and many different types of skin cancer. Just one indoor tanning session can raise your risk of life-threatening skin cancer by over 60%.
Check your skin routinely
Melanoma is the worst form of skin cancer; more people die from it than any other type of skin cancer. But even melanoma is treatable if found early. This is why you should check for changes in your skin and for signs of skin cancer and other conditions often.
Taking care of your skin is very important. If you want help looking and feeling your best, call Peach Skin and Laser or make an appointment at our location in Yuma or our office in Tucson, Arizona, to find the right treatment for you.