6 Tips To Protect Yourself This Summer

Most of us will probably dance in the streets once the sun comes out, and stays out, this summer.

Who isn’t ready to shed their heavy coats and cumbersome boots after this brutal winter across much of the country? Before you perform your sun dance, however, heed these six crucial ways to keep your eyes, skin, and hair healthy this summer.

Eyes

  • Rock a pair of shades. We all want to look cool in sunglasses, but lens size is one of the most important facts to consider when you’re making your selection. Over time, UV exposure can damage the cornea and lens of the eye, so double check your fab new frames to make sure they’re adequately protecting you! Oversized glasses provide the best coverage from the sun. Period! They also should feature UV400 protection and dark lenses to lessen the intensity of the light hitting your eye and reduce potential eye damage.

  • Invest in eye cream. Even in darker-skinned people, exposure to sunlight, especially during the summer months, can cause a higher-than-normal level of skin pigmentation (melanin) under the eyes, where the skin is quite thin. A tan makes us look terrific, but the raccoon look should be limited to raccoons. Apply a thick eye cream with SPF under the eyes, to reinforce and protect the skin. Use it every day.

Skin

  • Protect against bruising. Once we shed our bulky winter clothes, we want our newly exposed skin to look its absolute best in our warm weather outfits and swimsuits! However, more outdoor activity brings with it more opportunities to bump, trip, fall—and bruise our thinning skin. A smart way to help strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, and to help protect it against bruising, is to apply DerMend Moisturizing Bruise Formula, twice a day. If you do develop a bruise, use DerMend to help fade its appearance.

  • Say “yes” to sun screen. While sun damage can occur year round, your skin is most prone to damage during the summer months, when UV indexes are high. Make sure that your sunscreen has at least SPF 15, is water resistant, and has broad-spectrum protection. You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, and if you’re sweating or swimming, remember to reapply it frequently!

Hair

  • Hats on! Light rays can seriously dry out your hair, but wearing a wide-brimmed hat will help keep it glossy, as well as provide up to 100 percent protection for your scalp from UV damage. Many other clothes are specially made to block the sun’s strong rays. Look for a label that says Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), which should indicate how much of the sun’s rays are absorbed by the fabric.

  • Treat your locks lovingly. More and more hair products are including UV protection. Keep your hair radiant all year long with a UV-protectant spray or a higher-end salon product.

This post is sponsored by Ferndale Healthcare. Thanks for supporting FabOverFifty!