Ironic, isn’t it? The time of year when we most want to show the most skin is the time of year we can do the most damage to it. But the danger of overexposure is not the only worry. In the heat of summer activities, skin gets sweaty, greasy and dirty. And washing it all off, well, that takes a toll, too.
•Exfoliate
Before you can achieve that healthy summer glow, you have to get rid of dry, dead skin. Dermatologist Audrey Kunin recommends using an exfoliating body wash with a washcloth, loofah, buff puff or a micro-dermabrasion cream.
Do this no more than a couple of times a week.
•Be gentle
After showering or bathing, gently pat yourself dry with a soft towel. Don’t rub hard. Drying too hard removes live, healthy, skin cells.
•Moisturize
Use a moisturizing lotion or cream after showering to help keep your skin well hydrated. Moisturizing is especially important after shaving. To keep your skin healthy and well-hydrated, drink plenty of water – especially in hot summer months when you perspire a lot.
•Use sunscreen
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: proper use of sunscreen is the single most important thing you can do to protect your skin.
You need at least a shot glass full of sunscreen to cover your body adequately.
Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going into the sun so it can be properly absorbed into your skin.
Use a water-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 15. People with fairer skin should use at least SPF 30. Reapply every 60 to 90 minutes and after swimming or heavy sweating, even if the brand claims to be waterproof.
-Sources: webmd.com, American Academy of Dermatology
—
(c) 2006, The Kansas City Star.
Visit The Star Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.kcstar.com/
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
AP-NY-05-19-06 0608EDT
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.