How to protect your skin during the summertime

Published on July 17, 2022 By Gentle Touch | Last updated on July 17, 2022

With the arrival of summer, one of our favorite things to do is enjoy the sun. Undoubtedly, good weather changes our mood, making us happier and more inclined to go out. The sun provides 90% of our body's vitamin D, thus favoring the secretion of dopamine and serotonin, the so-called happiness hormones. 

However, although the sun helps us in many ways, it also has its negative side. Especially when we do not take the necessary precautions, since the sun's rays can affect our skin, causing burns and spots and favoring the risk of skin cancer. 

At Gentle Touch, we have been working for the well-being of our patient's skin for years. We know that well-cared skin is healthy; therefore, we encourage our patients not to lower their guard throughout the year, especially in the spring and summer months, when the sun's rays are more potent and can cause more damage.  

We've developed tips to help you enjoy the summer without neglecting your dermatological health. Pay attention to this blog post. 

Why take care of your skin in the summer?  

Proper skin care during summer is vital to having healthy skin. It is necessary to take care and have a good skincare routine daily, especially in the summer months. At this time of the year, our skin needs extra hydration, maintenance, and protection. 

In the short term, skin that has not been adequately cared for can become dry, rough, and even flake off. 

During the summer, skin care becomes even more critical. During these hot months, it is necessary to provide the face and body with more hydration and protection, as solar radiation causes the skin to age faster, lose elasticity, and can even produce melanomas on your skin. 

This is reinforced by the long hours of sun exposure during vacations and the chlorine in swimming pools. This can lead to the accelerated appearance of facial blemishes and expression lines. 

It is, therefore, necessary to follow some indications to take care of the skin so that it does not suffer excessively during the summer months. 

Tips for skincare during summer 

Avoiding the ailments described above is very simple. Here are some essential tips for external skin care in summer: 

• Skin cleansing and preparation 

To enjoy healthy skin, the skin must be clean and prepared. It is essential to cleanse the skin daily with mild products that remove dirt without altering the skin's acid mantle, especially in the summer season. 

• Moisturize your skin daily 

Showers and drinking water (2 liters a day) can prevent skin dehydration. However, it is advisable to complement these measures by using moisturizing milk after every shower, whenever you have been in the sun, and before going to bed. Remember the driest areas such as knees, heels, and elbows. 

• Use sunscreen every day 

Sunscreen should be your must-have all summer long. Always apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor every morning before leaving the house. We advise you to carry a small container in your purse/backpack, such as our SPF50 Plus face cream. You should reapply the product throughout the day because it can lose functionality. 

• Avoid sun exposure during the middle hours of the day

As you probably already know, during the central hours of the day (12-16h), the sun's harmful rays have the most substantial impact on our skin. For this reason, in addition to recommending the use of sunscreens with a high sun protection factor (SPF), we advise you to avoid, as far as possible, direct exposure to the sun during this time of day. 

• Drink plenty of water 

As we have already mentioned, skin hydration should be carried out inside and out. The body loses water in the heat and needs to be replenished. Lack of water in the body can lead to premature aging and dry skin. To keep our skin well hydrated, we should drink plenty of water, about 2 liters. 

• Proper clothing 

Another aspect to consider to take care of your skin in summer is the clothes we wear, ideally natural, fresh fabrics that allow perspiration. This way, we avoid excessive sweating and reactions from lack of sweat. When you go to the beach or swimming pool, do not use colognes or products containing alcohol, as they could cause irritation or stains on the skin.  

We must protect and take care of the areas most exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, chest, arms, legs, and nape of the neck. Use scarves, hats, sarongs, etc. They help protect these areas from prolonged exposure and keep the rest of the body cool. 

• Food 

You have to eat everything, but the intake of certain foods helps improve your skin's appearance and health. Fundamentally, you consume foods rich in antioxidants, such as vegetables and fruits. 

• Don't forget the face and lips 

They are the great forgotten when it comes to photoprotection. We tend to believe that the sun protection creams we apply on our bodies are also suitable for our face and lips. Nothing could be further from the truth. So include special sunscreens for these parts of your body. 

Protection from the inside 

To take care of the skin internally, we advise you to drink plenty of water at Gentle Touch, as it is the best way to hydrate inside and out. Its consumption in the indicated quantities visually improves the skin and gives it luminosity. 

A healthy and balanced diet helps prevent premature aging and certain dermatological diseases such as atopic dermatitis or acne. Maintaining a varied diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements are crucial for our skin in summer. 

At Gentle Touch, we will help you get the skin you want. If you have questions about our skin treatments, do not hesitate to contact the Gentle Touch Team to get a Free Consultation. Please call (860) 216-6225 to schedule your appointment or email info@GentleTouchCT.com.