You've probably heard that your skin is the largest organ in your body, but do you know how important your skin is for protecting your health?
Not only does it act as your first line of defense against disease and physical threats, but it helps in important detoxification processes, water retention, and temperature regulation.
Without healthy skin it can be hard for the rest of your body’s systems to do your job in keeping you healthy and happy. That’s why it’s crucial to know these tips for preventing and caring for sunburns.
What’s the big deal with sunburns anyway?
Your parents probably fussed over wearing sunscreen when you were a kid, but do you fully understand how dangerous sunburns can be?
Most sunburns you get will be classified as first-degree burns, which are burns that only affect the outer layer of your skin. While these are the least serious types of burns, they can still lead to discomfort, dehydration, or cancer in the long run.
If you’re exposed to high UV for long periods of time, your skin may blister, indicating a second-degree burn. Second-degree burns affect the outer layer and underlying layer of skin, making them much more serious. This is a lot rarer for a sunburn, but not impossible.
A single blistering sunburn can increase your risk for melanoma by 50%. Damage to your skin starts from your very first sunburn and builds up as you get more sunburns. That’s why it’s important to protect your skin!
How to protect your skin from sunburns
You might think, “this one’s obvious! Just wear sunscreen!”
It’s a little more complicated than that.
First, it’s important to understand how the SPF scale works. The number following SPF on a sunscreen indicates the percentage of UVB radiation that it blocks. SPF 15 blocks 93%, SPF 30 blocks 97%, SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 blocks 99%.
Not all sunscreens are built the same, even if two brands say 50 SPF. The quality of ingredients dramatically impacts how well a sunscreen works.
If you’re using a spray sunscreen, you still need to rub it into your skin for effective use. Otherwise, it sits on top of your skin and doesn’t create a shield against the UV.
You should wear sunscreen every day, especially on your face, even if you’re staying inside. Screens and indoor lighting omit a frequency of light that damages your skin and accelerates the rate of aging.
Tina Belt's, L.Ac., favorite sunscreen is My Zen's Vitamin E Daily Sunscreen SPF 45 with Dermatologist recommended hyaluronic acid. It offers non-toxic protection from the sun while restoring your skin's hydration and barrier strength with skin loving ingredients. Check them out for unique skincare with a herbal medicine approach that offers wound healing and enhanced protection.
Are there unexpected ways to prevent sunburn?
Few people know about this trick for preventing sunburns, but it can make a big difference in protecting your skin from the sun.
Calcium is a crucial mineral for protecting your skin. One of its functions is to protect your skin, but it moves away from your tissues and into your bones as your vitamin D increases from sun exposure.
This could be the difference between a mild sunburn and a nasty one- make sure that you’re taking a calcium supplement to protect your skin. I like a vitamin called Cataplex F, which helps move calcium back into your skin where it can protect you from sunburns.
What should you do if you get a sunburn?
Once you have a sunburn, it’s important to remove the heat from your skin so it does as little damage as possible. But what’s the safest way to do that?
While you want to cool off your skin, you’ll also want to avoid putting ice directly on your skin. This can dry out your skin, making the burn worse. You can take a cold shower or bath if tolerated but keep it short as it can dry out your skin.
You’ll want to use a topical product that draws the heat out of your skin like aloe vera. My favorite product for healing tissue and removing heat from your skin is the Ching Wan Hung Burn Cream. This works better than aloe because it offers increased skin regeneration through herbal elements and is even used in hospitals in China to treat second-degree burns.
While you’ll want to wait for your sunburn to heal and rehydrate first, you can come into Good Needles for a facial rejuvenation treatment. UV decreases the collagen in your skin, increasing the effects of aging like discoloration, sagging, and dullness. You can prevent and diminish the long-term effects of sunburn through cosmetic acupuncture and light therapy, both included in the package.
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