How to stay safe in the sun on those hot Louisiana days

As summer winds down, there’s still time for pool and picnic days. And as swim season shifts to football season, we all know the heat isn’t going anywhere.

With all that extra time outside, it can be easy to forget about the sun’s major downside: skin damage.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to combat harmful rays. We talked to Jordan Whatley, a dermatologist at The Dermatology Clinic and Cosmetic Center, for some insight.

How important is sun care in the summer?

The sun is great. It helps your skin make vitamin D. But too much is too much, especially in the summer when the UV radiation is high and we are often outdoors. It causes DNA damage.

Can you talk about that DNA damage? If you take care of your skin, what are you avoiding in the long run?

Wrinkles, brown spots, skin cancers and easily-bruised skin are greatly reduced by minimizing long-term sun exposure and sunburns.

What part of the body do people most commonly forget to protect?

The ears!

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DOCTORS ORDERS

DO wear lightweight long-sleeve shirts. They make it easier to protect large areas of skin and keep your body temperature cooler.

DO look for products with only zinc or only zinc and titanium. These tend to be less irritating for those with sensitive skin.

DON’T leave sunscreen products in your car. The heat breaks them down. The exception is products with active ingredients zinc and/or titanium.

DON’T use sprays with both sunscreen and insect repellent. Sunscreen should be reapplied every one to two hours when outside. Reapplying insect repellent that often is dangerous, especially for kids.

DO reapply sunscreen every 45 to 60 minutes when you plan to be in the water.

DON’T forget to apply sunscreen to ears and lips.

DO wear a hat or cap. It keeps you from having to apply sunscreen on your scalp and forehead, and it helps prevent sunscreen irritation in the eyes.

DO use cold aloe gel and ibuprofen to help ease the pain and stinging of sunburns.

Editor’s note: Quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.

This article was originally published in the August 2019 issue of 225 Magazine.