4 Steps To Prevent UV Damage To Your Skin This Summer
We love summer, beach days, and spending time in the sunshine, but it can be so detrimental to our skin. UV damage is a powerful attack on the skin that can result in a variety of skin concerns from wrinkles to skin cancer, so it’s important that we do everything we can to protect our body’s largest organ. Luckily, there are a few ways to help prevent UV damage to your skin while still enjoying the best that summer has to offer.
Here are four steps that you should follow to prevent UV damage.
1. SPF Is Your Best Friend
A lot of people think that sunscreen is used simply to prevent sunburns, but it prevents so much more damage! When you wear an minimum SPF 30 and reapply every two hours in the sun, you’re protecting your skin from damage in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpgimentation, and more serious skin concerns, like skin cancer.
Some of our favourite sunscreens to prevent UV damage include:
Vivier Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 45
ZO Skin Health Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50
2. Use a Vitamin C Serum to Boost SPF
Did you know that Vitamin C can boost the effectiveness of your SPF, further preventing UV damage? This powerful antioxidant is so multipurpose, adding it to your skincare routine is a no-brainer.
Vitamin C serum helps neutralize free radicals that can damage the skin and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Add a few drops to your face and neck as part of your morning skincare routine and let the serum do its work. Not only will a Vitamin C serum provide extra protection, but it also helps to brighten your skin and reduce signs of aging.
Smooth Effects Vernon offers a variety of Vitamin C Serums in-clinic and we’d be happy to help you find the best product for your unique skin via a free skin consultation.
3. Prevent Pigmentation
You know those dark spots or freckles that appear on your skin after time in the sun? That may actually be UV damage. UV exposure can cause an overproduction of melanin, leading to dark spots and hyperpigmentation, often the first signs of exposure to damaging agents.
To prevent pigment from developing and reduce the appearance of dark spots, you will want to use products with Tyrosinase inhibitors to counter the production of melanin. Some options to add to your skincare routine include Vivier Radiance Serum, Skin Brightening Cream, Vivier Corrector 2, or Viver Advanced Skin Lightening Serum.
4. Top It Off With A Hat
Finally, make sure you top it all off with a hat. A wide-brimmed hat that covers your face, neck, and ears can block up to 50% of UV rays, adding another layer of protection to your skin. A hat does not replace sunscreen and the two should be used together.
Protecting your skin from UV damage is paramount in the summer, but should be practiced year-round. Not only can UV damage lead to serious concerns like skin cancer, but it can also age our skin more quickly, cause uneven tone and texture, and a variety of other skin concerns. Don’t risk it and follow these four steps to prevent UV damage to your skin.