We are coming into the summer months and hopefully sunnier days., in saying that, protecting our skin should be one of our main priorities.

This week I’m going to talk about the effects sunburn has on our overall health. Protecting your skin is more popular nowadays than ever but still needs to be discussed regularly. We forget that our skin is the biggest organ on our bodies and it needs to be taken care of.

Your skin is a massive interpretation in your mood and your overall health. It shows everything, in terms of dehydration or unhealthy eating habits. When studying to be a beauty therapist I learned a lot in terms of how the skin works and how it reacts to certain things.

Sunburn is one of the leading cases of skin cancer and melanoma. Some people don’t generally realise how sunburn can really damage your skin and may even cause some harsh complications with your health. Many of us still expose our skin to burning rays without UV protection. Even on a cloudy day, sun cream is still very essential when it comes to protecting your skin. Sun damage is often not even visible. UV light can alter your skin and change your DNA to cause ageing in your skin.

This DNA damage can result in many different skin cancers. How soon sunburn and sun damage develops depends on your skin type, the suns intensity and how long your exposed to the harmful rays. Preventing sunburn would mean to wear sun protection frequently, reducing your time in the sun by watching the clock and often wear tops that protect your shoulders etc. Always apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Treating sunburn is relieving reddened skin and reducing the pain. Home remedies for treating sunburn would be to use cold compress towards the skin or using any creams or gels such as aloe vera, menthol or any sort of after sun products. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and reduce your time in the sun.

The saying “You are what you eat” really comes into effect when it comes to your skin. Eating greasy and unhealthy food can cause clogged and congested pores and leave you with spots and oily skin. When not staying hydrated enough your skin can become extremely dry, giving a grey looking complexion. When eating clean foods tailored to your needs and staying fully hydrated can make a huge difference on how your skin looks and feels. Minding your skin is a contribution to your overall health and needs to be a main priority.

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