Guest post by Katie Pierce

The sun offers numerous benefits for your body. When exposed to sunlight, the skin makes vitamin D, which helps keep your bones, skin, and immune system healthy. In addition, sunlight can boost your mood and reduce stress to get you through the day. And getting some morning sunlight can help you sleep at night because it resets your body’s internal clock.

While sunlight offers many advantages, it also comes with risks, especially for your skin. Here’s a breakdown of these risks and how you can safely enjoy the sun this summer.

Effects of too much sun exposure

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your skin. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, fair or tan, UV rays can be harmful. These risks increase depending on the intensity of the UV rays and the length of sun exposure.

Let’s take a closer look at the adverse effects of having too much sun exposure:

Sunburn: An inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to the sun’s UV rays. It is characterized by red, painful, and sometimes blistered skin. Sunburns can range from mild to severe and can cause symptoms such as swelling, itching, peeling skin, and fever.
Skin cancer: UV rays can damage the DNA in skin cells, which increases the risk of skin cancer.
Early aging: If you spend too much time in the sun without protection, your skin ages faster, with signs such as wrinkles, age spots and broken capillaries. This is because UV rays damage the collagen and elastin fibers that are responsible for keeping your skin looking fresh. Damage to the DNA in the skin cells can also speed up the aging process.
Eye Damage: UV radiation can affect the delicate tissues of the eyes. This can cause damage to the cornea, cataracts, and macular degeneration — all of which can affect your eyesight..
Suppressed immune system: Too much sun exposure can suppress your immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight off infections.
Heat stroke: Too much time in the sun can dehydrate your body, leading to heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.

Summer skincare tips to protect your skin

With everything mentioned above, keeping your body hydrated while in the sun is a must. Drink water and eat healthy food. Beyond that, strengthen your skin’s defenses by following our summer skincare tips.

Always wear sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is the most important way to protect your skin from sun damage. Sunscreen contains active ingredients that block UV rays from being absorbed by your skin. It can be in the form of a lotion, spray, or gel.

To help maximize the protection, keep these things in mind:

Choose a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) level of 30 or higher.
Look for labels that say broad-spectrum. This indicates that the sunscreen can filter out UVA and UVB radiation that may cause skin damage.
For maximum effectiveness, apply sunscreen to the skin at least 20–30 minutes before going outside.
Make sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin, including your face, neck, ears, arms, and legs.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
Incorporate sunscreen into your skincare makeup routine.

Avoid peak sun

While it’s essential to get a little light from the sun every day, limit exposure to the sun’s rays when they are the strongest. Usually, the peak hours are between 10 am and 4 pm, so try scheduling your outdoor activities outside that period.

If you have to be outside during peak sunlight hours, find some shade to reduce the intensity of the UV rays hitting your skin. You can use an umbrella or sit under a tree or other shelter to avoid direct sunlight. This can reduce the risks that come with having too much sun exposure.

Choose your clothing wisely and wear protective accessories

Choosing the right clothing can also help you avoid harmful UV rays. If possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants/skirts when the sun is up. That way, the sun won’t directly touch your skin.

If you want to wear more summery outfits, you can still protect yourself with your clothing choices. fFor better protection, wear clothes made from tightly woven fabric. Also, go for darker and more vivid colors, as they absorb more UV rays than light and pastel colors.

Also, wear protective accessories such as hats and sunglasses. They’ll make a great addition to your summer look while protecting your skin and eyes from the harmful effects of too much sunlight. For the hat, choose one with a wide brim to protect your face, ears, and neck. Meanwhile, it’s best to wear sunglasses that can block UVA and UVB rays.

The bottom line

Summer is a great time to go to the beach, enjoy walks, and do many more activities. However, too much exposure to sunlight can damage your skin and health. By keeping our skin care tips in mind, you can still enjoy the lovely summer season that you’ve been waiting for, and keep your skin healthy for years to come.

Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.

Image by AdoreBeautyNZ from Pixabay