Skin Care

Saving Face

Don't Be a Burn Out This Summer

Let us begin by stating the facts. Everybody looks better with a tan. The sun, in all its skin-charring UV radioactivity, feels pretty damn good on otherwise office-shaded skin. And like any vice worth its satisfaction, it comes with some heavy consequences. But everything in moderation, right?

 

• Print this
• E-mail this
• Save/share this
• Submit a question

 

 

FYI

To cover an entire body, you'll need one ounce of sunscreen — enough to fill a shot glass.

 

We're not advocating laying out beach bunny style, turning every 20 minutes like a rotisserie chicken. We're simply suggesting, go outside and get some exercise (and maybe a hearty dose of Vitamin D). Just remember to use protection.

"All skin types should use an SPF of at least 15, but the lighter your skin is, the higher your SPF should be," says Dr. Craig Austin, a Manhattan dermatologist with a summer outpost in the Hamptons. "If you have light to medium skin tone, you should use at least a 30, but preferably 45, especially during the peak hours of 10am-2pm." This way, you'll still get the benefits of the rays without all that pink, peeling skin afterwards.

Of course, SPF won't matter much if you don't use enough to begin with. Dr. Austin says that guys often forget to reapply (he suggests slathering on more every three hours). Wondering how much to use? The recommended amount is one ounce (see sidebar for reference). Which means if you've been using the same bottle of lotion you used last year, you're not applying enough. That, and it's likely expired.

Forgot to reapply? Or maybe you uttered the famous "I never burn." Either way, now you're seeing red and wincing at the thought of actually putting on a shirt. "One of the best remedies is to make a cold milk compress and apply it to the burn," says Dr. Austin. "The lactic acid naturally draws out the heat, moisturizes the skin and helps to get rid of dead skin cells." If your burn's bigger than a hand towel, grab Korres' Yoghurt Cooling Gel, ($23.50 at Sephora), which works the same way. Keep it in the fridge for even more relief.

The top three neglected areas for sunblock.

• Print this

• E-mail this

• Save/share this

• Submit a question

Comments

Advertisement

Advertise on Valet