3 Great Summer Skin Tips!

The summer sun is intense here in Colorado, and it is not being shy this season. Give your skin some love by following these three great summer skin tips.

1.  Soothe sunburn with vinegar.

Use a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar to soothe your sunburned face and a paper towel or washcloth soaked in vinegar for the rest of your body. Hold on skin for 15 minutes. Vinegar helps to relieve pain and itching and also prevents blisters from forming.


2.  Fade sun/age spots with lemon juice.

Citric acid in lemon juice helps dissolve dead skin cells and expose new fresh skin underneath. Lemon juice also contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that protects you from aging and sun damage.

3.  Relieve itchy bug bites with banana!  

Who knew?! Rub the inside white part of a banana peel directly on a bug bite for 2-3 mins. This helps to moisturize and calm irritation.

Source: Woman's Day, July 2013

The Inside-Outside Approach to Vitamin D

Vitamin D is manufactured in our skin. As we age, our skin's ability to make Vitamin D declines. This deficiency has been linked to rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Deep wrinkles on the face and body are a direct result of bone density loss, which results from a lack of Vitamin D. The vitamin is also critical in regulating hormones and keeping other problems at bay, like depression, seasonal affective disorder, PMS and sleeping problems.

We all know our body makes Vitamin D when directly exposed to the sun, and most of us meet some of our requirements this way. However, we still need to limit sun exposure by wearing protective clothing and SPF of at least 15 to prevent premature aging, cancer and other skin problems. That's why we should also take Vitamin D supplements.

Recommended dosage ranges form 400 to 1200 IU's per day. Please check with your healthcare provider on what is right for you.

Source: Skin Inc. March 2013

Watermelon. Not Just for Snacking.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and reflects our total overall health. It’s affected by stress, sleep patterns, water consumption, genetics, and, most importantly, diet. You hear me talk over and over about eating foods rich in antioxidants to change the skin at the cellular level. A healthy diet means healthy cells, healthy skin, and healthy hair.

Watermelon as Sunburn Soother
As the summer comes to an end, fill up on your watermelon. It is not only high in fiber and low in sugar (as far as fruits go) but also contains lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to protect against UV skin damage. Additionally, watermelon has anti-inflammatory properties, which means you might feel better if you place pureed watermelon on your sunburned skin. The bottom line: eat watermelon before you go in the sun. And if you don’t slather on enough UVA/UVB protection during your outing, use a little watermelon on your skin to feel better. Who knew?

Watch for more upcoming skincare recipes and food tips!

New Sunscreen Rules for NEXT Summer

New sunscreen regulations from the US Food and Drug Administration were supposed to go into effect on June 14, but it looks like the FDA pushed the date all the way back to December 2012.

Soon, sunscreen manufacturers will be required to test their products and meet new labeling requirements. This means that consumers will finally have accurate information for how well a product actually protects against UVA and UVB. (Read more about the new regulations in this Forbes article.)

Remember that you want protection against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning). Since the new regulations are not yet in effect, it's up to you to read the sunscreen labels very close before buying.

Summertime Sunscreen Reminders
Colorado receives 300 days of sun a year, more than any other part of the country, and sunblock is essential if you want your skin to look great. For extra protection, you should limit your time in the sun (especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), wear sunglasses, broad-rimmed hats, and clothing to cover your skin. Don't forget to apply sunblock every 2 hours, even if your sunscreen is labeled water resistant.

Sunscreen tip:

Never swap shade for sunscreen. 50 to 95 percent of rays can bounce off of water and sand and hit your skin, even if you're under an umbrella and surrounded by shade. And remember, passing clouds only block 20 percent of UV rays; the other 80 percent soaks right into your skin, even with no sun in sight.