The beach bum’s guide to skin care | Oscar Rx | hioscar Blog | Oscar
The beach bum’s guide to skin care
The summer skin care tips you need to know before you hit the beach.
General HealthClinically Speaking
6 min read
Dr. Bobby Buka
Share article
Everyone’s body reacts differently to the sun. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for how much is too much, which is why you’ll want to play it safe and protect your skin whenever you hit the beach.
Getting fried with a bad sunburn is a miserable experience which can have a lasting effect on the overall health of your skin. Sunburn and unprotected sun exposure can significantly increase your chances of developing skin cancer, but all it takes is a little extra preparation and mindfulness to avoid getting burnt.
When it comes to your skin, there are two major health risks from getting too much sun: premature aging and skin cancer. Skin cancer cells (squamous, basal, and melanoma) are caused by exposure to UVA rays that are emitted by the sun. The accumulation of multiple sunburns, which are caused by UVB rays, can increase a person’s risk of getting skin cancer.
Gauging who’s at risk of skin cancer isn’t an exact science, which is why everyone should use protection when they hit the beach, regardless of skin tone or history with sunburn. Dr. Buka says, "Your body’s susceptibility to skin cancer is a complex interplay of genetics, skin tone, and number of sunburns. The best way to determine your risk of skin cancer is to look at your family history. If your family has a history of skin cancer, this will lower the number of sunburns needed before a skin cancer emerges."
Sunscreen and sunblock help protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays (opens in new tab) (and are a great item to use your FSA dollars on). The SPF number listed on a bottle represents that amount of time you should be able to stay out in the sun while wearing it, versus using no protection at all. While sunscreen is an essential and effective way to protect your skin from sunburn, its effectiveness is dependent on how well it’s applied and the type of sunscreen you use.
The next time you’re in the market for a good sunscreen, Dr. Buka recommends the following:
Get into the habit of wearing sunscreen every day. UV rays are always present, even during the winter or in cloudy weather. Incorporate SPF into your daily facial moisturizer.
Use a physical sun-blocking product labeled Broad Spectrum SPF 30, which should provide ample protection for most skin tones. Look for the ingredients zinc and titanium, which work like tiny mirrors on the skin to reflect the sun away from your body.
Avoid chemical sunscreens with ingredients like cinnamates, octocrylene, or salicylates, which don’t last very long and are known to break down as soon as the sun hits them.
Don’t use tanning oils, even if they have SPF. They don't have the coverage of sunscreens, and can put you at risk for sunburn.
Choose SPF 30 products. Those with an SPF higher than 30 often cost more and don’t offer much additional sun protection.
Opt for waterproof, water-resistant, and sport sunscreens for extra protection, especially if you’ll be swimming or sweating in the sun. Remember to reapply frequently.
Weigh the pros and cons of different kinds of sunscreens (lotions, gels, sprays, powders, etc.). Sunblock lotion is ideal, but sprays are easier to apply. Keep in mind that sprays are translucent, so it can be easy to miss areas of your skin during application. If you’re beaching with a friend, have them get your back and other harder to reach areas.
Step 1: Apply generously before you go outdoors. It takes sunscreen 15 minutes to fully absorb into your skin. If you wait until you’re outside, your skin will be unprotected until then.
Step 2: Use enough sunscreen. The typical standard for sunscreen application is one shot of sunscreen for each leg, one shot for your chest, one for your back, and one for each arm. If you’re too far from a tiki bar, Dr. Buka says you can eyeball your application. If it’s visible on your skin’s surface, then the sunblock should do it’s trick.
Step 3: Don’t miss a spot! Be sure to get all your nooks and crannies: neck, face, ears, chest, tops of your feet and legs. If you can’t reach, ask a friend or family member to help you out.
Step 4: Give your face some extra love. The sun’s harmful rays can contribute to aging, and the skin on your face is extra sensitive. Try using a face-specific block with a higher SPF for more protection.
Step 5: Reapply frequently. Reapplication is essential if you’re getting wet, sweating, or moving around.
Set timers and reminders.
Keep track of the number of hours you’re spending in the sun, especially during peak hours (10am to 2pm) when the sun is at its strongest. Sunburn typically doesn’t register immediately, which means you have to play it safe, down to the minute (opens in new tab). Set a timer or reminder on your phone to reapply your sunscreen.
Shady business isn’t always a bad thing, especially because it can help protect your skin. Umbrellas, trees, beach huts, or shelters can help lessen the intensity of sun. Sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats will help provide you with extra protection from the sun. Plus they make you look famous.
Cover it up.
Even though you spent all spring getting that bod ready for the beach, you’ve gotta cover it up if you want to protect your epidermis. Long, loose-fitting, clothing can do the trick. Good news: rash guards, one piece bathing suits, and moo moos are back in style. Who doesn’t want to look like an Olsen twin?
Stay hydrated.
Prolonged sun exposure can cause dehydration, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. If you’re hitting the beach, pack a cooler with bottled H2O, Gatorade, coconut water, or watermelon to stay hydrated. Apps like Water Your Body (opens in new tab) and Water Drink Reminder (opens in new tab) track your daily H20 intake and can set hydration reminders, so you can spend more time immersed in that killer beach read.
Check your meds.
Certain types of medications like antibiotics (doxycycline), retinol, tretinoin, and accutane can impact how your body reacts to the sun or increase your risk of sunburn. Check with your doctor or dermatologist before you hit the beach to see if your medications have any sun-specific side effects.
Know what’s in your beauty products.
Your day-to-day beauty routine can affect how your skin reacts to the sun. Peels and skin care products with acids can make your skin more sensitive. Check the labels of your skin care products. If you’re using products with red-flag ingredients like vitamin A, retinol, or its derivatives, such as retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate, you’ll want to take extra precaution when it comes to the sun.
How to care for a burn.
So you had a little too much fun, stayed out a little too long, and now the damage is done and you are looking like our friend Sebastian the crab. Now what? Dr. Buka advises, "When it comes to treating sunburns, oral Ibuprofen is the best-kept secret. It reduces inflammation and sops up free radicals that are caused by ultraviolet light, and works as a blocker to prevent damage to collagen."
While you can’t reverse the damage after a sunburn, you can take extra measures to soothe your skin until it’s healed. Try taking cold baths or showers, moisturizing with aloe vera, drinking extra water, and wearing light, breathable fabrics like cotton to cover your skin. Avoid further sun exposure until your skin has healed, and remember to take extra precaution the next time you catch some rays.
