Happy July everyone! Did you know that July’s flowers are the water lily and the larkspur? To some, the water lily symbolizes an open, fun-loving heart and reminds them of the fireworks we’ll see in the sky on the Fourth. The larkspur, which is often grown to attract hummingbirds, symbolizes well-chosen words and persuasion.
July is also the hottest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and so I hope to persuade you to take care of yourself and your skin before enjoying your fun in the hot sun. Summer may bring back our carefree, light-hearted days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few necessary steps to protect our skin from cancer, painful sunburns or premature aging. Your skin will thank you!
Five Tips for Enjoying the Sun Safely
1. Wear sunscreen. If you are going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or more. Apply liberally to your face and don’t forget your ears, top of your head, neck, hands, arms and feet. You should do this even on less sunny days – the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays can reach through clouds and still burn your skin. Even if you spend your days indoors, you should still apply sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or more. A major misconception is that sunscreen is only needed outdoors. Wrong! The sun’s rays can also reach through windows and cause damage to your skin.
2. Re-apply sunscreen. Make sure you re-apply your sunscreen throughout the day – at least every two hours, and more often if you burn quickly or have been swimming or perspiring. Don’t forget your hands and arms and the tops of your feet if you’re wearing sandals.
3. Wear a hat. Hats with wide brims (at least three inches) and made of tightly-woven darker material offer the most protection. Baseball caps with side flaps and cowboy hats offer some protection. Smaller hats like bucket-style, fedora or baseball caps give you the least amount of protection, especially for your ears and neck. But even smaller hats are better than nothing, especially if you apply sunscreen to the exposed areas.
4. Use hair care products with sun protection. Your hair can suffer from too much sun exposure, just as your skin can – especially if you are not wearing a hat! Today there are several hair care products available with sun protection. Great sun block that does not clog your pores available at Birdie Day Spa! It is safe for everyone especially sensitive skin condition. If you don’t want to buy a special product to protect your hair, you can make your own. Simply mix two teaspoons of your sunscreen into a cup of water in a spray bottle and spray your hair.
5. Stay hydrated. If you are out in the hot sun, make sure you have something to drink regularly and don’t get dehydrated. The best drink is still water. Some healthy alternatives, depending on your particular physical condition, include vegetable juice, fruit juice, or unsweetened iced tea. Need some delicious Superfood Juice as Nanogreen and NanoRed, available at Birdie Day Spa as well.
What’s Next on Birdie’s Blog – Stay Posted!
Sunscreens Demystified – Confused about what type of sunscreen is right for you? UBA, UVB rays and broad-spectrum mean? What is the difference between a chemical and a physical sunscreen? Are certain sunscreen ingredients harmful? The answers to these – and more – in my next blog!
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