Who doesn’t love soaking up the sun? And while we all know the importance of applying sun screen and practicing sun-safety, many people don’t realize that after-sun care is important even if you don’t get a burn.
While a tanned summer glow is often deemed healthy and beautiful the truth is skin colour obtained from UV rays – due to the sun or a tanning bed – accelerates the aging process and increases the risk of developing skin cancer. In fact, “Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily — taking longer to heal. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, it will definitely show later in life,” according to WebMD.
The key to youthful, healthy looking skin is simple: take care of it. And that includes giving your skin proper attention after sun exposure, even if you don’t have a burn.
3 After-Sun Steps to Follow:
1. Hydrate. Being out in the hot sun dehydrates us. Instead of going for a cold pop, an iced coffee or fruit juice, opt for water, and lots of it, to replenish your body both inside and out.
2. Wash. Have a quick rinse in the shower, or if that isn’t possible, freshen up with a lukewarm wash cloth. This will remove sweat and dirt so they don’t inhibit step 3.
3. Rejuvenate. After sun exposure your skin needs moisture and while almost any moisturizer is better than none, there are certain things you should look for in an after-sun care product. Beyond skin hydration you want to look for a product that also includes anti-oxidant properties to combat free radical damage, anti-aging properties to support collagen and elastin as well as rejuvenation properties to help skin repair itself.
Nature’s Aid all natural skin gel is an effective after-sun care product. Not only does it offer all the above rejuvenation benefits and more, if you do end up with a sunburn, it provides soothing relief and faster healing. Learn more about our skin gel and how to use it at here.
