Avoid these three things and save your skin this summer

With the days getting longer and hotter, Christmas BBQs and beach adventures await. Summer is notorious for sunburn and daytime activities. So how are you going to keep your skin in tip-top health this summer? Prevention is the best cure for many sun damage related problems, so remember to avoid these three things and save your skin this summer.

1. Sun bathing

Sun baking, or sun bathing, as some people know it, is the number one no-no when it comes to skin health. Whether it is lying in the sun or on a solarium bed, both practices damage your skin which leads to accelerated aging and skin cancer.

Solution: To keep that sun kissed glow switch to fake tan product, either applied at home or professionally applied at a salon.

2. Forgetting to wear sunscreen

There are still lots of people who do not wear a sunscreen throughout the day. Some people don’t like using a sunscreen because of the smell or texture, or some people just plain old forget. Not wearing sunscreen puts you at risk of skin cancer, hyper-pigmentation and accelerated aging.

Solution: If you dislike one sunscreen, don’t write them all off; try lots of different products until you find one you like. Having trouble remembering to put it on every day? Dr Kuchel suggests thinking of sunscreen like a prescription medication. You could even set a reminder on your phone!

3. Hanging out in the danger times

Around the middle of the day is when the intensity of the sun is at its strongest. This also means that the UV index is at its highest. It is not uncommon to see an extreme UV index rating during summer in Australia. Even on cloudy or rainy days the UV index can reach extreme levels.

Solution: Avoid being out in the sun during the danger times. In the peak of summer this is around 0830 and 1630. Use a weather app on your phone to track the UV index for the day, or check the weather online and in the newspaper.