Summer often puts us in a sunshine state of mind and heightens society’s desire to tan – but if you’re going to be outside during the hottest time of day (between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) you need to know how to protect yourself from both unflattering and painful sunburns, vision damage, skin aging and skin cancer.

Sunscreen – You knew this would be at the top of the list! Wearing sun screen with an SPF of at least 30 every day (even on days when you cannot see the sun!) is the best ways to protect your skin during the summer besides avoiding the outside world completely.

2020 Best Sunscreen OptionsHere is a list of the 12 best sunscreens of 2020 according to skincare experts: 2020 Best Sunscreen Options

Wear A Hat – A hat with a wide brim such as a bucket hat, straw hat, sun hat, sports visor, or baseball cap are all great and stylish options!

Wear Sunglasses – UV rays can cause macular degeneration, cataracts or pterygium if the eyes have extended exposure to the sun. The trending styles for summer 2020 are oversized aviators, classic brow bar, oversized cat eye, small cat eye, oversized geometric shape, small geometric shape, round, oval or square. Although fashion is fun, the best way to protect your eyes is by wearing large sunglasses that boast 100% UV protection.

Invest In Sun Protective Clothing – Look for clothing that has UPF fabric. If clothing is advertised with an SPF label it does not protect you against full spectrum.

According to the company, Coolibar, “SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor which measures the amount of time it takes for sun-exposed skin protected with sunscreen or lotion type products to redden from UVB (“burning”) rays. UPF is a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB measure for fabric, and it rates the amount of UV radiation that penetrates a fabric and reaches the skin. A garment with a UPF of 50 only allows 1/50th of the UV radiation falling on the surface of the garment to pass through it. It blocks 49/50ths or 98% of the UV radiation.”

Companies with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) lines:

Coolibar

J. Crew

Adidas

Speedo

Athleta

Under Armour

Patagonia

Columbia

Mott 50

Carve Designs

Hanes

Take A Break! – Limit the time you spend in direct sunlight by taking a break in the shade or go inside for a bit.

Stay Hydrated – Spending a lot of time in the sun will make you sweat, especially if you’re exercising. You’ll need to drink more water to replenish these fluids.

• Remember alcohol, coffee and soda are diuretics and can cause dehydration!
• Fruit juice and sugary drinks prevent the body from absorbing water because they don’t have enough sodium

Stay safe and enjoy the nice weather!