Dark spots, uneven skin tone, or discoloration – all not-so-fun signs of hyperpigmentation that increase in appearance during those warm, sunny months. If hyperpigmentation or discoloration is something you combat, protecting your skin is extremely important.
Here at Accurate Aesthetics Plastic Surgery, we want to help you protect, correct, and maintain your skin all summer long!
Here are some tips for staying safe in the sun this summer:
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Use Sunscreen
The first line of defense of protecting your skin against anything, but especially hyperpigmentation and skin cancer, is sunscreen. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin. Choose a sunscreen with broad spectrum coverage that blocks both UVA and UVB radiation for the best protection.
Protect your skin from harmful UV rays
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Re-Apply sunscreen
Reapplying sunscreen is essential for the protection of your skin. When should you re-apply? Every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating.
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Seek Shade
Shade is great if you need a break from the heat or protection from the sun. Try to stay in the shade during the hottest part of the day – just keep in mind that you still need to wear sunscreen because the sun’s rays may be reaching you from different angles.
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Wear Sun Protective Clothing
Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck, and ears when you’re outside in the summer. There are UV Protective clothes available that absorb or block harmful UV radiation. Combining SPF 30+ sunscreen with UPF 50+ protective clothing and gear is one of the most effective forms of protection against sun damage and skin cancer.
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Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water to help your skin stay healthy and hydrated. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are caused by dehydration mixed with too much heat exposure. If you are in the sun and feel ill (e.g., weakness, headache, dizziness, cramping, fainting) even after drinking hydrating fluids like water or a sport electrolyte drink, call 911.
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Wear sunglasses
Your eyes need protection too! Exposure to high levels of sunlight can cause a number of eye-related health issues (e.g., eyelid tumors, cornea and conjunctiva damage, accelerated cataract formation, macular degeneration). Choose sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV rays to protect your eyes and the skin around them. And if you have kids, make sure they have sunglasses too! They are at increased risk of retina damage because their lenses are not yet fully developed.
Reminder!
The sun isn’t all bad. Sun exposure has lots of benefits like Vitamin D production which leads to h2er bones, regulation of melatonin levels which lead to better sleep, increased serotonin levels which helps with mood and combat depression, plus so much more! But you must take care to prevent the negative effects of the sun. By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from the harmful effects of UV rays and reduce your risk of skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.
If you do end up with hyperpigmentation issues this summer, we’ve got you covered. We offer a number of treatments that can improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, including:
Contact Accurate Aesthetics today if you want to schedule an appointment.
