Taking extra care of your skin can help prevent damage that may lead to skin cancer. The following tips will help you keep your skin looking and feeling healthy!
- Wear a very high SPF sunscreen on all scars. If scars get direct sunlight during the first year after forming, they can remain pink for years instead of fading to a less noticeable translucent color.
- If you do get a sunburn, apply aloe to alleviate the pain. The aloe plant has a natural skin protecting ingredient.
- Keeping your skin moisturized after exposure to sun is very important. Use a rich moisturizer (like a cocoa butter formula) with vitamin E, or if possible, use an actual aloe plant; apply the tissue from the inside of the leaf directly to the skin. The oils in this plant help repair skin after a sunburn.
- Always wear lip balm with a minimum SPF of 15; try to get UVA and UVB protection.
- Keep your diet rich with dark green vegetables; these are high in phytonutrients like sulforaphane which help the skin.
- The oils and fats in avocado and olive oil can be used twofold; keeping these "good fats" in your diet keeps your skin and hair healthy and shiny respectively; in addition, they can be applied directly to your damaged skin or hair.
- It may sound strange, but putting sunblock directly into your hair and rubbing it into your scalp can help protect against burning.
- Taking a bath with certain ingredients like a few cups of whole milk or water-soluble lotion after exposure to sun can help alleviate damage.
- Stay hydrated; consume significantly more water than usual when you are spending time in the sun; this will keep your body and skin hydrated and looking young.
- Wear sunglasses to not only protect your eyes from the sun but also to reduce wrinkles or "crow's feet" from squinting.
- If you take any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, ask you doctor or pharmacist if they increase sun sensitivity.
To learn more about skin cancer prevention, click here.
