With the weather warming up and the holidays on the way, the thought of relaxing while soaking up the sun after a year behind closed doors is something many people are looking forward to. The summer holidays offer the perfect opportunity to spend time soaking up the sun, but since we have been indoors a lot more than usual this year, we also have to be wary about getting too much sun exposure too soon. Of course, it’s best to always avoid too much-unprotected sun exposure, this summer it’s more important than ever to protect your skin.

“Over-exposure to the sun can result in the skin showing symptoms of sun damage, and if not taken care of immediately can cause lasting effects. It doesn’t matter whether your skin is dry or oily, or if you have fair or dark skin, sun damage is a concern for everyone,” explains Alexa Wilding, Everysun senior brand manager.

Signs of sun damage on the skin

While many of us think sun damage only presents itself in the form of red, inflamed skin, the truth is sun damage can show up on the skin in a variety of ways:

Dry skin can occur when your skin has been over-exposed to the sun. It can appear dry, flaky, and slightly more wrinkled than areas without sun damage. Dry skin can also cause itching.

When spending too much time in the sun, especially without applying sunscreen, sunburn can occur. Mild sunburn causes pain and redness, while more severe cases of sunburn can produce painful blisters, and even nausea and dizziness.

Small bumps that feel like sandpaper or a patch of scaly (peeling) skin with a pink, yellow or brown tint is known as actinic keratosis can occur due to sun damage.

Long term changes in the skin’s collagen can also be a symptom of sun damage, and can result in fine lines, deeper wrinkles, a thickened skin texture and easy bruising. This happens mostly on the back of the hands and forearms.

How to prevent sun damage this summer

Continuous sun damage over time can cause skin cancer, while everyday exposure without sun protection can damage the skin, especially when out during the hottest times of the day. Luckily, it is not all doom and gloom and a few small changes to the way in which we interact with the sun can make a big difference to our skin.

Wear a high SPF sun block:

The most important point when it comes to sun protection is to wear a high SPF sunscreen. Make the application of sunscreen to your body and face part of your morning routine. Don’t forget to top up during the day.

Be sure to choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, like the Everysun SPF50 Invisible Sunscreen Spray. Specially formulated with Vita Lock, an infusion of superfruits, antioxidants, vitamins and advanced UVA and UVB filters with photo stability, this sunblock helps to protect against sun-induced skin damage and promotes skin elasticity and firmness. It is suitable for the whole family and provides protection both in and out of the water.

Another great option is the Cetaphil Sun SPF 30+ Spray. The water-resistant sunscreen spray-lotion is brilliant for getting to those hard-to-reach parts of the body that almost always end up getting sunburnt. It’s also a bonus that it can easily be used on both the face and body without causing any irritation or blocking the pores.

Avoid the hottest times of the day:

Do your best to avoid the hottest sun times of the day, from 10:00 to 15:00. The UV rays that cause sunburn are strongest during this time. If you do need to be outside, then wear a high SPF sunscreen, a hat, and find shade.

Wear protective clothing:

If possible, wear protective clothing. Although wearing long sleeves and long pants on a hot summer’s day might not be the look you are going for this summer, it can block out more of the sun and help to protect your skin.

Be extra careful at the beach or pool:

Surfaces like sand and water can reflect the sun’s rays causing sunburn. When around water or sand, be sure to take extra precaution to avoid severe sunburn or sun stroke.

Keep little ones out of the sun:

Babies younger than six months old should be kept out of the sun completely and should be kept in the shade and covered up.

Keeping your skin safe and protected from the sun is simple, and easy. You just need to b diligent about your sun protection when spending time in the sun this summer.

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