Summer Sun in Santa Clarita Valley

 As the sun continues to shine through the summer, everyone’s main concerns are on how to escape the heat, or how to get that perfect tan. But if for some reason you happened to get more of a burning red than a bronzed gold tan, here are tips and tricks to protect your skin from the sun other than simply avoiding it.
1. Sunscreen is your friend: Depending on your skin sensitivity, your Sun Protection Factor may be higher or lower. All the variety may be overwhelming but popular standards favor SPF 20 with UVA and/or UVB protection as a good general sunscreen to have on hand.
2. Children Do Not need a Tan: Keep younger children out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Some sun is good for children but, especially in Summer, it is better to keep children out of the heat.
3. Darker skin doesn’t make you Sun-Proof: It’s a well known fact that more (melanin) in a person’s skin yields a greater amount of natural sun protection. However, it’s still a bad idea to lay out in the sun all day with no protection. Darker skin can get a sunburn and can actually be more difficult to see along with other skin damage. Case in point, everyone should carry some form of sun protection such as sunscreen, umbrellas and Aloe Vera.
4. Keep your skin hydrated: Whether indoors or outdoors, dry skin in summer heat causes cracking and flaking. Use of hydrating lotions can prevent this from occurring and keeps skin healthy and strong.
5. Water is a Must: Beyond avoiding skin issues, keeping your body hydrated keeps your body strong in the blistering heat. Be sure to drink two water bottles per day if possible.
6. Tanning with Celebrities… bad:
As many celebrities can attest, sunburns are not the most enjoyable thing in the world. Jokes aside excessive tanning is a serious matter than can affect your life in negative ways in some cases. Tanning is fine with proper use of oil outdoors, tanning salons, or even spray on tans, but tanning as a weekly occurrence is not healthy and can cause complications.
The Sun is a great thing but it is important to avoid overconsumption of that sweet vitamin D. Give yourself the time in the sun you deserve and enjoy the light Santa Clarita Valley. Just be mindful not to overdo it!