A is for Aging, B is for Burning: Summer Skin Care Tips

We are experiencing an event in Seattle as rare as an eclipse: a sunny forecast for the fourth of July. Local tradition has summer officially starting on the 5th, perhaps some sort of punishment from the weather gods for our usually mild climate. One thing for sure is that the sunshine, siren-like, draws us outdoors; like Odysseus tied to the mast, extreme measures would be required to keep us inside.
So some loss of compulsion about wearing sunscreen is understandable, and my point here is not to begrudge anyone their moment in the sun. In fact, if you get some sunshine in the morning or late afternoon, you are actually converting cholesterol into vitamin D, which in turn has some anti-cancer benefits. But if you are frying in the midday, your skin will pay the price.
Just keep one important thing in mind: Your sunscreen’s SPF rating doesn’t tell the whole story, because it only measures protection against burning, which is due to UVB rays. That’s a good thing of course, but it is the UVA rays-the same ones that you get in tanning beds-that actually cause the long-term aging changes in the skin. As yet, there is no universally recognized standard for UVA protection, so you need to look for it specifically. The easiest way is to look for the term “full spectrum” protection, or specific UVA blockers like Mexoryl.
Another simple thing you can do is make sure you include antioxidants in your diet. Since one of the best sources of these is berries and pigmented fruits, take advantage of blueberries and cherries in season. And stay well-hydrated, but please, don’t go for the sugary vitamin-enhanced drinks. Just do like Mom says: play outside for a while, get plenty of rest, and eat your vegetables.