By mid-July, the pool parties, barbecues and afternoons on the lake consume much of our free time. All of this fun in the sun, skin protection from harmful UV rays is critical. You may slather on the sunscreen, but there are alternatives to keep sun damage at bay that don’t require reapplying every hour.
Your face often suffers the most from sun exposure. Over the years, wrinkles and sun spots pop up as you get older. The easiest way to prevent premature aging is with a hat. A variety of styles that are hot right now. For the ladies, pair your bikini or sundress with a broad, floppy beach hat. This shades your face, neck and shoulders. For the guys, grab a casual fedora or a classic baseball cap before you get out on the water.
Sun-protective clothing is another easy skin saver all year round. If you have a medium to dark skin tone, your typical t-shirt will provide enough sun protection to prevent burns. Indy downtowners and uptowners with fair or sensitive skin and children, clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 15 or higher may be the best option. Companies like REI, Coolibar andParasol provide full lines of UV-protective clothing for swim, outdoor and everyday wear.
If you’re not prepared to restock your wardrobe with these new protective pieces, there is a viable alternative. New products on the market claim to reinforce the clothing you already have to shield you from UV rays. Brands like Sun Guard say their products “wash UV protection right into clothes.” It provides a UPF 30 barrier to an entire closet of t-shirts, shorts and sweaters that stays for the next 20 washes.
Whichever protection choice you decide to keep the beating sun from roughing up your skin, be conscious of the sun’s power at all times of the day. And, as always, take care of your clothing with the proper care of dry cleaning from time to time.
