Keep your skin nourished in the summer sun

Let the sun shine... The time of year has arrived when we book it, pack it and get on our way for a holiday of hopefully sun, sea and summer fun (even if the UK isn’t being too generous with sunshine this year!). Sunny days make us feel good and have some health benefits too so if you are jetting off somewhere hot or the UK finally decides to shine on us, here are some tips on how to look after your skin safely in the sun. The summer sun The most common ray that we get directly from the sun is Utra Violet – B (UV-B) this is the ray that makes you burn. Ultra Violet –A (UV-A) is another ray that we get which is more associated with the aging process. We are exposed to UV-A all year round as it can penetrate through the clouds, therefore it’s a good idea to wear sun cream or make-up providing a protective layer of SPF-15 in all weather conditions.

Is the sunbed really bad for you? Tans became fashionable in the 1920’s when Coco Chanel accidently sun burnt herself at the French Rivera, her fans were taken by her look and her lead in fashion inspired a new trend that is still being continued today. If you like the idea of having a winter tan, buy a flawless self tanner to give you that glow. As healthy as a tan may look, a tan from a sunbed can do more damage than good as it admits UV-A rays damaging vitamin D and penetrates deeper in the skin layers causing damage to the tissue that is not immediately visible. We would always advise that you're careful when using a sunbed.

Picking a sun cream SPF 15 is an ideal factor to choose; above SPF-20 creams tend to include chemicals to keep its protective barrier but can also leach into the skin causing premature aging of the skin.  When picking a sun cream, choose one that is not overwhelmed with a lengthy list of ingredients and instead choose natural ingredients such as zinc oxide (sun reflective, supports collagen) or titanium dioxide.

How long should I be in the sun? 20 minutes of daylight exposure excluding the midday sun can be supportive to synthesize vitamin D.  After 20 minutes the sunlight begins to damage the vitamin D produced.  Another reason for not having longer exposure than your recommended daily amount is that the rays can penetrate into the skin damaging collagen, potentially causing premature aging and free radical damage. Uneven skin pigmentation Our skins produce a colour pigmentation called melanin in the sun. An example of melanin in one area of the skin is freckles which are more frequently seen on pale skin.   People that are exposed to the sun a lot may develop more obvious skin patches make the skin tone look more uneven. Using skin creams or foods that contain Vitamin A, E and l-cysteine may help to as they reduce the tanning pigmentation melanin in the skin whilst also protecting collagen.

Reducing sun damage to the skin Be sensible, don’t over expose your skin and make sure that you include plenty of antioxidants in your diet from fruit and vegetables to help your skin. Antioxidants provide additional support to sun cream by minimizing the risk of the UV rays penetrating through the skins layers. Bringing down sunburn and saving your tan Ideally, try not to burn your skin as this can cause aging, but if you are caught out apply vitamin A and aloe vera to soothe and repair the skin from any redness.

Keeping your glow Make sure you keep your skin well hydrated in the sun, drink plenty of water and eat healthy fats such as oily fish and coconut to help keep your skin glowing and moisturized to maintain your tan. We might only get a handful of sunny days at the moment, but it's definitely worth making the most of them. If you're able to get away this year to somewhere with much more sunshine, practise safe sun with a balance of getting enough Vitamin D and using a good sun cream. Enjoy your week.