Too hot to handle: How to take care of your skin during summer

Posted on 1 May 2021

Summertime means beach season, but it could also mean the scorching heat of the sun takes a toll on your skin plus the pollution, humidity, and other free radicals that washes off the skin’s natural glow

SO HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN DURING THIS SUNNY SEASON?

EAT NUTRITIOUS FOOD. While the country is in another quarantine lockdown, most people think that staying-at-home means binge eating junk food all day. It’s a big NO, especially during this global health crisis, everyone should understand the importance of boosting the immune system. By focusing on getting nutritious recipes, it will not only support your immune system but also helps your skin become healthy. Remember, what you eat reflects on your skin.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Drinking lots of water helps maintain the balance of the body fluids. Water will also keep the skin hydrated and fresh all day.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP. While the days get longer during summer and the eyes are stimulated by sunlight, make sure to not compromise your regular sleep so you can wake up all refreshed and alert the next day. During sleep, your skin’s blood flow increases, and the organ rebuilds its collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles and age spots.
MINIMUM EXERCISE. To keep your body healthy. Do some exercise at least 30 minutes, 5 x a week or 150 min a week. According to study, during this time, the body releases hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine into the bloodstream which activate the adrenergic receptors of immune cells to help decrease inflammation in the body.
EXFOLIATE IF NEEDED. As we age, the process of cell regeneration slows down, and skin cells start to pile up on the surface of the skin making it look and feel rough, dry, and dull. These build-ups can result in excess oil and clogged pores. That is why, it is still advisable to exfoliate at least once a week to get rid of dead skin, clogged pores, and bacteria to open moisturizing products deeper into the skin, which makes them more effective.
MOISTURIZE AS OFTEN. Excessive summer heat can dehydrate your skin. It’s important to moisturize your skin during summer to retain its suppleness. But if your skin produces sebum, it may also be a sign that your skin is dehydrated. The oily substance protects the skin from drying out.
TAKE VITAMIN C. Vitamin C brightens the skin and prevents the damaging of skin cells at the same time. Topical Vitamin C evens out our skin tone to get rid of those unwanted sunspots.
APPLY SUNSCREEN. First, exposure to the sun is not all bad. 20 minutes a day of moderate sun exposure (without sunscreen) improves our natural Vitamin D levels. However, more than 20 minutes of direct sun exposure for most people can start to cause damage. Meanwhile, sunscreens with SPF 60 or more often layer in multiple potent ingredients in order to make bolder claims. Instead of being more effective, they mislead consumers into applying less frequently or taking other precautions against skin damage. Remember to choose cream over sprays. Spray sunscreens have particles that when inhaled end up going down then to the respiratory system.