Skin and sun: here’s what you need to know

Desire for summer and sunbathing. Tanning gives a healthy air and is good for you, but…

Desire for summer and sunbathing. Tanning gives everyone a healthy air and is good, as long as you follow some simple precautions.

Sun yes. Sunlight is good for you because it stimulates the release of the mood hormone, serotonin. Not only that, it has positive effects on the immune system and a strengthening action on the bones because it induces the body to produce vitamin D which has a fundamental role in fixing calcium on the bones.

Sun no. The sun’s rays are responsible for skin aging, can cause spots on the skin and weaken the hair. Dermatologists also warn against excessive or incorrect exposure, responsible for the appearance of skin cancer.

How to get a healthy glow without putting your skin and holidays at risk due to painful sunburn?

The watchword is to prepare in advance, dedicating specific care to face and body and focusing on a diet that can moisturize the skin and, why not, stimulate the production of melanin, for a natural tan.

Face and body

To eliminate winter grayness from the skin you need a peeling on the face and body. There are numerous products on the market, to be used before or during the shower, as well as treatments by the beautician, but it is also possible to prepare a homemade scrub suitable for face and body, to be massaged gently before showering.

The recipe is very simple, just add a few tablespoons of sugar to your shower gel and “soap up”.

The goal of peeling is to exfoliate, that is, to eliminate dead cells to regenerate the epidermis which must then always be treated with a moisturizer.

Prevention on the plate

Fruits and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet always, but in summer they must become the main dishes on the table. Red and orange vegetables and fruits are to be privileged in the menu: they help to produce melanin and also have an important antioxidant action, that is, they keep the cells clean. Green light, therefore, to carrots, peppers, tomatoes, melon, apricots, peaches and cherries.

The tomato also contains lycopene, a substance considered among the most effective to counteract the action of free radicals and the cellular damage that follows.

It is preferable to consume raw vegetables, since cooking disperses vitamins and mineral salts.

The fruit can instead be blended and added to plain yogurt, to be used also to dress green salads and cucumbers, strongly moisturizing.

Finally, you should drink at least two liters of water a day to maintain water balance. Children should be offered water several times during the day, without waiting for them to be thirsty. Thirst, in fact, is already a sign of dehydration.

Here’s how to protect yourself

The first rule to avoid tanning damage is gradual and protected exposure. Even those who are still in the city can apply sunscreen on their face and arms before leaving home: you can even get burned on the way home / office or while shopping.

The suggestion applies even more to children: you go to the gardens with solar in your bag.

It is also advisable to protect yourself with a hat and sunglasses. At the beach, children can also wear a light T-shirt.

The sunscreen product should be purchased according to your skin type and applied at least half an hour before exposure to the sun.

The applications should be repeated approximately every two hours and even more often in case of sea bathing, sweating or rubbing. Beware of misleading advertising: there are no products with total protection (sunblock).

The best and safest hours for a healthy tan are early morning and late afternoon. It is absolutely not recommended to sunbathe in the central hours of the day. In any case, prolonged exposure, even if protected, is always to be avoided.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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