Tips from a dermatologist to prepare for summer

Spring traditionally carries the symbolism of rebirth, a concept where life re-emerges after winter. It is an invitation for us to also set certain goals, have a vision of a new cycle and begin to resume healthy habits, such as skin and hair care , if we have neglected them during the winter.

Taking advantage of some anecdotes from patients in the consultation, here I explain some tips for skin and hair care during spring that will also help you prepare them for summer .

Likewise, I explain some preventive measures to take care of your skin and hair from the sun, since lately in the consultation I am seeing real burns, even on cloudy days!

Real case 1: Eliminate the past 🙅

I remember a patient came to my office with a bag full of all the products he had used over the years for his facial routine. He was very committed to taking care of his skin and wanted to do things right so he could rigorously follow a proper facial routine.

He asked me in front of his products if I could take advantage of any of them. Looking at them, many of them already looked a little old. I explained to him the same thing that I will explain to you now.

Can I use products, such as sunscreen, from last year?

One of the first steps you can take is to go through your skin care products and get rid of anything that is past its shelf life.

Sunscreens, for example, usually have a useful life of 12 months.

To be able to know exactly, you can look at the PAO symbol (“Period After Opening”) on the products, which indicates the useful life of the product since we open the packaging. This symbol is represented with the drawing of a cosmetic jar with an open lid and inside it you will find a number of months or years. When it comes to months, you will find the abbreviation “M”, for example (12M).

Real case 2: Eat a diet rich in antioxidants 🍇

One day a patient came to my consultation who, in addition to taking care of her skin “on the outside,” was very curious to know if diet influences the condition of the skin and if there were any modifications to her diet that she could make to help her well-being. of your skin. In this sense, scientific evidence is a field in which there is still much to discover. However, there are certain aspects that can help us.

How can food help us take care of our skin?

While antioxidants are useful year-round for skin care , they are particularly important during the summer. The sun can cause direct damage to our DNA, in addition to altering the collagen in our skin.

Fortunately, in summer there are many options for foods rich in antioxidants such as: blueberries, grapes, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, among others.

The antioxidants with the most data reported in the literature are generally of plant origin. Among them, we find: polypodium leucotomos, anthocyanidins, turmeric, black cumin and resveratrol (from grape seeds and other seeds), astaxanthin and vitamins C or E.

Real case 3: Protect your skin from UV radiation ☀️

I remember that, recently, a patient came to my office who was very worried because she had been sitting all afternoon on a terrace with her friends and when she got home, in addition to confirming that her entire face was hot, red and very itchy, , he had noticed blisters on his cheek.

I couldn't understand how it had burned so badly if it had been cloudy all afternoon. In addition to giving him instructions on how to care for his skin in the event of this burn, I explained the cause.

Why do I burn my skin if it's cloudy?

There is a classification that helps us predict which people may be at greater risk of sunburn. It is the Fitzpatrick classification , a numerical classification from I to VI. Phototypes I are people with very sensitive skin who always burn and never tan when exposed to the sun. At the other extreme, phototypes VI have very resistant skin, which never burns, with deeply pigmented skin.

However, regardless of the phototype, it is important to protect ourselves from the sun in spring, even if the day is cloudy.

There is a tool that can be useful to guide us on the most appropriate time of day to avoid the sun: the Ultraviolet Index (UVI). This gives us an indication of the level of UV radiation and the potential danger of sun exposure at a given time .

The scale goes from 0 (minimal risk) to 11+ (very high risk). These numbers vary throughout the day. If the UV index is ≥ 3, it is advisable to protect your skin from sun exposure.

If your mobile phone has a weather application, it may be indicated in that section. In addition, there are web pages where you can consult it .

On the other hand, along with warmer weather comes longer days with more frequent and more intense exposure to the sun. While all of us dermatologists will agree on the importance of using sunscreen year-round, this is even more important during the warmer months .

Using a high SPF sunscreen (minimum 30 SPF and ideally 50 SPF) can reduce the buildup of chronic UV damage that is linked to aging and skin cancer.

Real case 4: Don't forget to also protect your hair and eyes from the sun 🌅

I recently went to a tennis tournament with a friend and her entire family. My friend was wearing a very wide hat and a long-sleeved t-shirt, since she is terrified of having spots on her skin like her mother and grandmother have. When I saw her, I congratulated her for taking these measures and also explained to her that wearing a hat could even protect her hair, to which she was very surprised. I explained the following to him.

Does sun exposure also damage hair?

Solar radiation also has several effects on our hair, such as:

• UVB rays cause a decrease in the strength of the hair fiber, producing fragility and breakage of the hair .
• UVA rays and visible light cause oxidation of proteins that change the color of the hair, giving it a yellowish tone .

For this reason, the use of hats is one of the most effective and compatible ways with our daily lives to take care of the properties of the hair and protect the hair from the sun.

When buying a hat, choose one that has a wide brim, as it will protect your ears, head, and neck . Avoid straw hats with holes, as they are not as effective at protecting you outdoors.

Just like hair, eye protection is equally important. Always try to use glasses that offer UV protection. Not all polarized lenses protect against UV rays, so you should make sure they have this property by reading the label before purchasing them.

Real case 5: The shadow is not enough 🌳

The other day a patient came to my office to ask me about some white spots she had on her arms and legs. Although they had been there for years, it seemed curious to him that they were more noticeable at the end of the summer.

I explained to him that these little spots (guttata hypomelanosis) were an indicator of sun damage to our skin. To which she replied: “I honestly don't understand it, because since I can remember we always go to the beach in the summer, but I spend my days under the umbrella. Despite that, I get tan… I guess it's a matter of my skin.” I asked him if he also applied sunscreen and his response was: “if I'm under the umbrella it's not necessary, is it?”

Should I also apply sunscreen when I am in the shade?

The different structures that provide us with protection from direct sunlight by generating shade (trees, umbrellas, awnings...) vary widely in their solar protection depending on the material, the surface area, the orientation they have with respect to the sky and their proximity to others. protective structures.

Additionally, many surfaces reflect UV radiation, which adds to the total amount of UV exposure we receive. For example, snow reflects up to 80% of the sun's rays, sand 15%, and grass, dirt, and water reflect 10%.

Therefore, being only under the shade may not be completely effective in protecting us from the sun. It is just another tool, but for proper skin care it must be complemented with photoprotection and sunglasses .

Recommendations from dermatologist Constanza Riquelme to protect yourself from the sun

For these reasons, both in spring and summer it is recommended:

• Limit time outdoors during the most intense hours of sunshine , which can be determined by the ultraviolet index (UVI).
• Apply sunscreen (≥SPF 30) to exposed skin to maximize protection.
• Find suitable shade such as: trees near other trees with dense foliage, buildings that block the sky, covered areas or pergolas made of material with a high UV protection factor (UPF).
• Nutricosmetics such as Olistic are an ideal complement along with a balanced diet to provide the antioxidants that our body needs throughout the year.