10 Tips for Better Summer Skin

By Darra McMullen,

Women’s Health Network Writer/Researcher

With summer upon us, we begin to take a more relaxed, carefree attitude toward life, and we begin thinking thoughts of various outdoor activities to pursue. Relaxation, vacations, and family fun are very important aspects of life, but let’s not forget to protect our skin while we kick back and play.

Tip #1:  Be sure to drink plenty of plain water.  Our skins look best and are at their healthiest when well hydrated.  Always offset the consumption of skin drying substances, such as caffeine, certain prescription drugs, or excess sodium or sugar with some extra water.  Your skin (and body in general) will thank you.

Tip #2:  Wear sunscreen to prevent the possibility of sunburn (in susceptible people) and to prevent sun damage to the skin (in anyone).  The more regularly you use sunscreens, the lower your risk of skin cancers as well.

Tip #3:  Use moisturizers and other cosmetic products with shorter and more recognizable ingredient lists.  Generally, the fewer the number of ingredients, the less likely you are to encounter something to which you are allergic.  Simple, recognizable ingredients, often naturally occurring ones, are usually better for your health than substances with long, complicated chemical names.

Tip #4:  Look for moisturizers and other cosmetics with added vitamin C.  This vitamin has been shown to be an effective anti-aging substance and skin strengthener.  Take vitamin C internally as well to improve overall health and skin appearance.

Tip #5: Use insect repellents to protect yourself. Prevent the skin misery and ugly welts resulting from insect bites.  Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, spiders, and ants can strike in any season, of course, but in Houston in the summer, these annoying (and sometimes disease carrying) pests are plentiful and voracious. Products containing DEET are effective and easy to find in stores.  Natural and/or organic insect repellents are remarkably good and fairly widely available.  When used in accordance with label directions, DEET containing and DEET free options are generally safe and do prevent a world of misery and temporary skin disfigurement from insect bites.

Tip #6:  Be sure to consume generous amounts of the vitamins A, E, niacinamide, and panthenol.  These nutrients have been linked to skin health in various ways over a number of years.  Supplements are a quick and easily obtainable way to be certain that personal vitamin intake is adequate for skin health, but obtaining these nutrients from foods is also a very good idea.

           

Tip #7:  Check the ingredients list of your foundations, moisturizers, etc. According to a study described in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, methylparabens often found in many foundations, moisturizers, and wrinkle creams, may actually speed up skin aging.  Used as an anti-bacterial preservative, methylparaben caused the study’s mice to develop drier, paler, and more wrinkled skin.  Scientists believe methylparaben damages existing collagen, while impeding the production of new collagen; both functions cause cells to age.  The Journal report was recently featured in a health blurb in First magazine, a popular publication for women.

Tip #8:  Consider using aloe vera juice or gel for many skin needs.  Many people can benefit from aloe vera’s useful properties.  Aloe vera helps to both moisturize and clean the skin.  Aloe has anti-microbial properties to help superficial wounds, insect bites, and minor skin rashes heal without delay or infection.  Aloe vera is also a great help to relieving itching and pain from insect bites and rashes.  Sunburns and other burns, such as from cooking accidents, can be healed much faster and with much less pain and suffering if aloe is applied promptly after skin is injured.

Tip #9:  Layer, layer, layer. The latest thinking in skin care seems to be the importance of “layering” products with SPF.  For instance, use a moisturizer, then a sunscreen, and finally, a foundation, all with SPF protection.  The reasoning seems to be that the more layers of SPF present, the more likely one or more of them will be able to stop damaging sun rays from reaching the skin.  This new philosophy is probably sound if you’re anticipating a lot of sun exposure, such as a day out golfing, hiking, or playing at the beach.

           

Tip #10: Consider incorporating blackberries in your diets.  Studies performed at Tufts University suggest women who eat one cup of blackberries daily can look up to five years younger than women who skip berry consumption. The reasoning behind these dramatic differences in skin health lies with anthocyanins, which are plant pigments that promote the healing of sun damage in skin and stimulate the growth of collagen, skin’s natural firming agent.  Blackberries are one of the top sources of anthocyanins in nature, and as such, can be a great dietary skin enhancer.

            There is so much we can do to protect, prolong, and enhance skin health that it is sometimes intimidating to know where to start, but by following a handful of simple steps, we can make big strides toward skin improvement with minimal life disruption, and we’ll still have time to enjoy the summer!