No doubt that we have many more months to go before summer sets in but there is no harm in planning ahead for the summer...In fact this is the time to plan and get sun smart this summer and your skin will thank you decades later !

Sun rays and our skin

Here is a bit of news that you will find hard to believe but it is true- 90 per cent of the things that depress you when you look in the mirror are not caused by age but by ultra violet rays - creases, blotches, little white spots, thickening, sagging, wrinkling, sallowing etc etc

Years of sun exposure can devastate and dramatically age even the finest and healthiest skins. Fair skin gets parchment thin with freckling, dilated broken capillaries, age spots and rough red patches. Those with medium or brown complexion may be slightly better off because their skin is tougher and does not start wrinkling with little or normal exposure, but long periods of exposure is bound to affect them adversely. And dark skin becomes coarse looking with deep furrows, however, the sun’s cancer causing UV-B rays are for the most part blocked by the ample stores of melanin in dark skin. But the longer UV-B rays which may not directly promote cancer but do cause wrinkling penetrate to the dermis regardless of skin color.

So the question is , how can you prepare your skin to weather the season and avoid long term damage? The answer is quite simple – Choose a good sunscreen ( it is the only over the counter product that actually helps in preventing pre mature wrinkles) and also take steps to block out the sun.

Facing the Elements

Water –Water like air is the most essential of all elements but sometimes what may be in it is not so good for our skin. The two biggest bad elements are chlorine and salt. Both of these dry out and irritate the skin and do worse damage to our hair fading color and natural gloss and turning it brassy, more like a hay stalk.

Before you dive in to a pool to cool your system, make sure that you create a barrier against the harmful chemicals by coating your skin with petroleum jelly, oil or any other water resistant moisturizer and massaging a conditioner into your hair. After swimming, shower immediately and use a conditioning shampoo. Take special care when you bathe in sea water since the salt water can sting when you have minor cuts and bruises which can get infected and leave permanent mark on your skin. Rubbing alcohol or a solution of baking soda with water helps relieve the pain and discomfort caused by such bruises.

Wind and Sun – Both these team up to damage our skin. The wind blats away all the natural oils and leaves the surface open to attack. Sun rays find minor abrasives and injuries and take advantage turning you into a bright pink or dark brown depending on your complexion. So be prepared and to avoid trouble, apply sun screen, then a thick moisturizer to your face and lips before setting out on picnics, boat rides and other outdoor activities that involves exposure to the elements for a long period of time.

If in case you do get burns on your skin pat dry the swollen or inflamed area with a cool compress as soon as possible. Apply moisturizer to the area after this and if you have itching and pain taking a mild pain killer like crocin helps. But if the itching persists and the sunburn is serious it needs a doctors attention.

Walking and Trekking – When you have to walk in warm weather and have no other go, sometimes your feet can be on fire if proper care is not taken. So before setting out for a long hike make sure that you are wearing proper shoes which fit comfortably . Cover ay blister prone area with water proof surgical tape, but don't wear bandages and gauze which tend to slip around and cause discomfort.

Wear socks and if possible take an extra pair along just in case the one you are wearing gets soaked in sweat and causes itching. After a long day of hiking and sightseeing in the sun pamper your feet by washing them clean and wiping dry. Dust your feet with powder and leave them to breathe through the night.

Some precautions and useful tips

1. There are some people who have such incredible looking skin that neither the ravages of time nor sun can touch. This can only mean one thing that they are paying attention. More importantly they make sure that their skin is protected from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays especially from the harsh Indian sun during summer months.

So make no mistake – you need sunscreen all through the year in a country like India where sun reigns high no matter what the season is. Make sure that you use a good sun screen that is suitable for your skin type, does not irritate or make your skin oily. Sun screen need to be tested before being used since your skin type also matters and one has to buy accordingly. Indian skin doesnt normally burn , but tans easily and thats why a sun screen lotion is needed to keep it protected.

2. Don’t count on cosmetics, moisturizers, foundations and other skin products to protect your skin. They don’t protect as much as we think , they do. I would go as far as saying that they cause more damnage than helping or protecting our skin.Layering products on your skin to block out the sun rays may have some other negative effects on your skin , since the extra cosmetic can clog the pores and burn there if not cleaned thoroughly.

It is better to leave the skin free rather than use a thick layer of make up during summer months.

3. Eat Vitamin rich foods - according to some scientific studies large amounts of Vitamin C and E make skin more resistant to burning. Carotenoids found in greens, yellow fruits and vegetables also help. So eating plenty of natural food stuff like green vegetables and fruits as always has great benefits for the skin as well.

Yogurt and butter milk is an ideal summer food. Including it in some for or the other in all our meals  makes the food more balanced and one can experiment with recipes that use yogurt and butter milk. One can make curd curries,raitas, dips and salads using yogurt, also make lassies and butter milk that is very refreshing when yu come come home after a day out in the sun.

4. Watch what you eat – Apparently melanine is not the only thing that affects our sensitivity to sun. Fruits like Figs, Mangoes, lime, carrots and celery all contain a compound called psoralen in their juice. If you are extremely sun sensitive and your skin burns easily, this compound will make it worse. So wash thoroughly with soap and water after you have eaten the fruits and handled the fruits.

Some medications including pain killers, antibiotics and oral contraceptives can also cause you to burn easily. What’s more alarming is that UV light rays that have fallen on your skin can interact with the drugs in your body, thereby altering their chemical structure, the immune system which may not recognise the new drug. This can cause skin rash .so when you take any drugs ask your doctor about the possible photo reactions and be extra careful.

5. Water and plenty of it is very essential for our system. Make sure that you carry a bottle of water when you step out f the house. It is better to drink one or two glasses of water before stepping out.this takes care of the immediate needs of your body. At least 8 to 10 glasses f water and fluids should be consumed to keep your system cleansed.

6. Your Clothes should be well fitting without being too loose, wet or transparent. Dark colors and heavy clothing make you burn more easily so opt for light and natural shades of clothing. It is also a good idea to wear a hat or a scarve round your hair and carry sun glasses and an umbrella while going out in the sun.

 7. Be alert for breakouts like acne, and pimples – for some reason many people have this wrong notion that the sun will dry out acne and pimples which is not at all the case. In fact, according to dermatologists acne is made worse by the sun because tanning which takes place when our skin gets exposed to sun has a thickening effect on the skin, so natural oils don’t drain as well, and pores become clogged.

Bacteria that forms with stale sweat and dirt can trigger acne and make it intensify the effect on the skin. So along with daily routine of bathing, shower promptly after sweaty workouts or excursions and change into clean washed clothes.

8. Wear clean socks and shoes, washing your feet whenever you get an opportunity to do so. While taking bath, clean your feet and toes with soap and water and dry them thoroughly. If you have any itching between the feet apply an anti fungal powder and an acne gel to ease the discomfort.

For a quick fix, take out the contents of 4 or 5 tea bags and add them to 2 liters of water or a quarter bucket of warm water. Soak your feet in this water for ten minutes and see the difference it makes to your aching feet !

9. Protect your eyes and the area around the eyes from the sun by wearing head gear such as a wide brimmed hat or sun glasses whenever you are outdoors. Studies have shown that this significantly decreases the risk of cataracts too. Using sun glasses is a must when you go out since it shades your eyes and stops the onset of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

10. Try and avoid the mid day sun as far as possible. We cannot hole up until dusk but one can try and avoid going out in the sun when it is at its most intense which is between 11 am to 4 pm. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or for late afternoons and evenings.

11. Drinking too much alcohol and smoking is a sure way of causing damage to both your skin and your system during summer months . So be moderate when it comes to hard liquor. Beer and Wine are better options again taken within limits and ideally quit smoking once for all.

Finally, who doesn't like to be noticed and complimented ? To maintain a youthful and glowing complexion you have to take certain precautions. Even if you spend very little time in the sun, it can still cause damage to your skin because UV rays get reflected from all kinds of surfaces , even water and affecting you even when you are indoors or staying in the shadows.