Summer is here and it's important to take steps to protect ourselves from the sun's harmful UV rays. Dr Deepti Rana, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, Max Multi Speciality Centre, Panchsheel Park, shares 10 tips with us for summers. Let's check them out.
Wear protective clothing - like loose, comfortable, full sleeve, light dresses.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
Keep in shade - try staying indoors between 10 am and 4 pm when the UV rays are at their peak. Keep outdoor activities limited to early morning or later in the evening.
Wear sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30, and reapply it every 4 hours if stepping out in the sun. Apply the sunscreen every 45 minutes to 2 hours if in water (swimming).
The amount of sunscreen to be applied should be sufficient to cover all sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, ears, hands, and feet.
Apply sunscreen as per skin type for better protection: Water-based sunscreen for oily skin, creamy sunscreen for dry skin, and a tinted sunscreen if pigmented skin to provide a camouflage effect and also provides coverage.
When the temperatures soar, avoid beaches and sandy areas due to the reflection of UV rays and prevent sunburn. Caution should be maintained in hills too.
Wear Sunglasses to protect your eyes from both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB) rays.
Always wear lip balm and sunscreen or lip balm with sunscreen - we often tend to avoid the protection of lips, which is not right.
Keep yourself well hydrated as UV rays tend to cause dehydration, leading to early signs of aging and wrinkling of the skin. Have around 2-3 litres of water throughout the day.