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6 Things To Do After Sun Exposure
It’s almost that time of the year again and that reminds us why it’s no coincidence that sun rhymes with fun! With the summer season beaming at us from a near distance, there’s just something about the summer sun touching your skin that melts a year’s worth of stress, work, school, and whatnot — sometimes a little too mesmerizing that it’s too late before we remember to protect your skin after too much sun exposure. And that will remind you why summer rhymes with bummer, too. Ouch.
So if you got a little eager by soaking up all the fun in the sun and forgot to take care of your skin in the process, just chill (figuratively and literally) because we’re here to make sure you don’t regret your lovely day in the sun by preparing for the after-sun situation.
Here are some sun skin care tips for your skin after a day of summer fun at the beach that was just too hot to handle. Enjoy and remember to soak up the wisdom like you would the summer sun!
What should you do immediately after being in the sun?
Being ready with our aftercare for the skin is part of being prepped for that next beach trip. So the next time you’re planning that mid-month getaway, here are a few things to remember:
MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN. NOW!
First thing’s first: right after patting yourself dry from a cool shower, soothe your sunburnt skin with your choice of moisturizer. Aloe vera is a clever idea to apply on the skin for treating too much sun exposure. The gel of aloe vera not only aids in hydrating your skin, but also gives temporary relief by acting as a cooling shield that the skin needs after all the sun damage it incurred.
With the way the salt and the sunshine can dehydrate the skin after just a day in the sun, your skin needs all the rehydration it can get as soon as possible. And if it happened to be a windy day, the sand may have caused exfoliation on your facial area as well.
Pro tip: applying your chosen moisturizer while your skin is still damp will help seal the moisture in your skin.
DON’T SCRATCH
Keep your hands to yourself! If you just came from the damaging rays, your skin is very tender and sensitive after exposure to the sun, so this scratching will definitely worsen your sunburn situation and might lead to wounds or abrasions.
Make sure to also observe after a day and so on, and then assess your next steps based on what the skin and the rest of your body feel like. The body will need to take its time, so it could take several days to weeks to fully rejuvenate your skin after sun damage. But if you patiently trust the process of the skin care routine you’re doing and religiously do it, it will surely pay off.
KEEP IT COOL
Have a face mist handy wherever you go so you can mist your face and body from time to time so you can continue to enjoy your precious time at the beach or by the poolside.
REHYDRATE
Did I emphasize enough the importance of water? Not yet, no. Rehydrating inside is just as important as rehydrating the outside of your body. And not only is it just generally good for your overall health, but it will also aid in your process of rehydrating your face and your body.
Repair
Sun damage inevitably means death for the outermost layer of skin, and more. It is important to use regenerating agents and soothing oils that are rich in vitamin E to help your skin when it comes to recuperating faster. This will provide your skin with a barrier of protection from external elements and at the same time facilitate the regeneration of your epidermis.
No more next time
Be a girl scout on your next beach trip and don’t forget to pack all the sun skin care tips to fully enjoy your summer fun and be protected from the buzzkills!
What should I apply on my face after exposure to the sun?
The face is particularly more sensitive than the rest of your body, so it could need the best of the best skin care treatment it can receive.
- Moisturizing facial creams or gels. Frequently applying moisturizing creams and gels to your face will help resurrect your skin after sun exposure.
- Sheet masks. Facial sheet masks feel extra soothing on your skin after a day spent surrounded by salt water and too much sunshine, which is a major factor for skin dehydration. Oh and aloe vera is the best on your skin after sun exposure!
- Lip balm. Apply to your delicate pouts as often as needed to keep them nice and supple.
- Exfoliating facial wash. Picking a facial wash with a gentle exfoliating agent is the solution to bid goodbye to the snake-like facial peeling we all dread and to get back your supple baby face. Apply on the skin and gently scrub the dead skin away.
What is it called when you get sick from too much sun?
This is the term used for severe cases of intense sunburn. And no, it’s not actually getting poisoned, but rather a side effect from ultraviolet (UV) radiation that causes inflammation on the skin.
You can already be sunburned with only 15 minutes of being under the sun, if unprotected. What’s scary is you might not even know or feel it instantly until it’s too late. Usually, the redness and feeling of discomfort will hit only after a few hours.
You can become severely sunburned if you expose yourself to sunshine for a long time and don’t wear protection. In fact, it doesn’t take long to start feeling the symptoms. You are more likely to sunburn if you have light skin and fair hair. But that doesn’t mean us Filipinas can’t get sunburnt, either.
This can cause the following symptoms:
- Skin redness and blistering
- Pain and tingling
- Swelling
- Headache
- Fever and chills
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
Once you start feeling the symptoms mentioned above, it means that it is time to take a break from all the summer fun and get yourself treatment for sun poisoning. In order to avoid this, be sure to come prepared and be conscious and vigilant before getting the summer party started. Doing these precautions will protect you from getting sunburnt. And the longer the time under the sun, the longer the summer fun, right?
Beach days and out-of-town getaways are always going to be part of our year. So we might as well take the most care of our skin while we’re at it!
Looking for more travel-friendly toiletries and beauty products for your next trip? Check out everything you need to know about shampoo bars here.
