Know More About Skin Care!

How to protect your skin from Sun Tan?

Hello everyone. I am Dr. Anupriya Goel from Berkowitz Hair And Skin Clinic. Today I am going to give you tips on how to take care of your skin during summers.

Now, the most common problem that people come to me with during summers is sun tan and pigmentation and my prevention for the same would be prevention than cure. Now, you must prevent your skin from the harmful radiation of from the sun which not only leads to sun tan and pigmentation but also leads to photo damage of your skin which leads to early signs of aging. So the main component which must be applied to prevent your skin from this skin damage is the application of a broad spectrum sunscreen. So, a sunscreen must be minimum SPF 30, UVA++, must be applied 15-20 minutes before going out in the sun, must be re-applied every 3 hours if you are in the sun continuously and should be applied in adequate quantities.

Now, a lot of people even though they apply sunscreen, as they do not apply in adequate quantity, is not very effective. So a minimum of 3 fingertips units must be applied on the face and the neck. Now, along with application of the sunscreen, application of a vitamin C serum is also very important. This is because, due to the exposure to UV radiations and due to environmental pollutants there is generation of free radicals or reactive oxygen species which not only damages your skin cells but it is also damages your melanin producing cells or melanocides. So, this can be prevented by intake of anti-oxidants in the form of citrus fruits, oral supplements and Vitamin C serum. Hence, I would advise that application of a Vitamin C serum and a sunscreen is a must every single day of your life especially in summers.

Now, at night time, the most important step before going to bed is cleansing your face. Many people undermine the importance of cleaning their face before going to bed. This step not only removes the excessive sebum and excessive production of sweat that is mainly produced during summers but it also removes the environmental pollutants. After cleansing your face, you must apply a topical agent containing alphahydroxy acid, containing glycolic acid, lactic acid or melanic acid at least twice a week. This step not only improves the top layer of your skin by decreasing the amount of sebum and removing the dead skin cells but it also acts on a deeper level of your skin producing increased collagen, and meuko polysaccharides which increases the thickness and quality of your skin.

On the other days of the week, you must also apply a moisturizing cream or a hydrating gel. The important properties of a good moisturizing cream are that it contains humectants which attracts water to the skin, maintains or traps water to your skin and emollients which smoothen up your skin. A good property of a moisturizing gel should be that it should leave your skin smooth and supple and not very sticky. Now, other than applying these moisturizing creams and hydrating gels, it is very important to take care of the hydration of your body by taking minimum 2-3 liters of water every single day. So, just to summarize it, during summers, during daytime, you must apply Vitamin C serum and a sunscreen and at night, you must apply a good moisturizing gel along with glycolic acid containing topical agents along with a healthy diet and cleansing your face.

If you do all these steps for a minimum of 3-6 months, you will definitely see a younger and brighter looking skin. Wish you all a very healthy and beautiful summer. Thank you.