When bad sun happens to good people
With the start of summer comes a need for extra attention to your skin for looking your best. So begin summer with an easy guide.
The sun is not a friend. Start each day with sunscreen at least an SPF 30 with UVA + UVB coverage. Even when you are in your car, you are getting sun on your face and hands. Sunscreen must be re-applied every 60 to 90 minutes if you are sweating or in the water. Sunscreens are water-resistant not water-proof.
Do not under-apply, for your entire body it takes about a shot glass worth of sunscreen to adequately cover skin.
Going to the tanning bed to “avoid a burn” is not a smart idea. It only increases your chances of skin cancers and “age spots.” Match your sunscreen to your personal needs. Some of my favorite products are Intellishade by Revision (kind of like makeup plus a BB cream), Skin Ceuticals Sheer Defense tinted sunscreen and Colorescience powdered sunscreen. For your body, a great product is Coppertone Sport (non greasy).
Consider a spray tan if you want that bronze glow. To get your best result, exfoliate and shave prior to your session. Also, never apply lotion to the skin prior to a spray tan.
Don’t forget to protect yourself with a hat, cover-up and especially sunglasses for your eyes. Sun can increase your risk of cataracts.
The sun dries your skin, and dry, dead skin looks old. So gently exfoliate one to two times a week. Overexfoliating, especially on the face, may trigger breakouts.
Most of the sun’s damage is caused by the formation of free radicals, which affect the DNA. Protection from these free radicals centers on daily use of topical antioxidants. My go-to products are TNS Essential Serum, Obagi C Serum, and Skin Ceuticals CE Ferrulic. Don’t forget to treat your neck and hands, as well as your face.
Night care is essential to allow your skin to rejuvenize. Don’t stop your Retin A in the summer. This increases collagen production and may even reduce the risk of skin cancer. Remember to use a toner after cleansing before applying Retin A. This allows the product to penetrate better. If you use a moisturizer, apply it after your Retin A.
Don’t forget attention to the other details that keep us from looking our best – hair and leg veins. Laser hair removal can be a permanent solution to unwanted hair, but it takes some advance planning. In a pinch, waxing can solve the immediate problem. If you find the sun shines brightly on fine “peach fuzz” on the face, consider Dermaplaning (done by an aesthetician) to rid you of this problem. Lasers or sclerotherapy (injections) can diminish spider veins, but this requires a bit of advance planning. Consider Dermablend (a cosmetic) for quick coverage for an important event.
Don’t forget the obvious. Make sure you get plenty of sleep – sunlight is unforgiving. And moisturize, moisturize. Obagi Luxe is a great product. In a pinch, use your Cetaphil cream or CeraVe healing balm.
If somehow bad sun happens to you, here are my best tips for sunburn:
• Start taking Ibuprofen immediately.
• Hydrocortisone 1 percent may be applied for three to five days to reduce to reduce inflammation.
• Like all burns, sunburn takes time to heal. Moisturize with creams or ointments for two to four weeks.
• When all else fails, see your dermatologist for treatment and repair.
Dr. Josephine Futrell is a partner at Ark-La-Tex Dermatology with offices in Bossier City and Shreveport and is part of the Willis-Knighton Physician Network.
