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Skin Advice During Summer

Start right now and you could freeze further aging, say dermatologists. The product is nothing more than the right choice of sunblock at your corner drugstore.
Use sunblock every day - rain or shine. |
Check the label for ingredients that protect your skin from the sun's aging effects. |
Re-apply throughout the day, especially if you've been perspiring. |
Don't assume that sunblock provides instant protection. Wait indoors or cover up for 30 minutes until the active agents kick in. |
Suppose you work in an office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and your only exposure to the elements is a 25-yard saunter to Starbucks? Yes, even brief bursts of daylight can take their toll on your skin.
What's more, wrinkles don't happen overnight. According to dermatologists, it can take up to 20 years for a vacation suntan to carve out its souvenir on your skin.
Choosing an Effective Sunblock
Opt for a sunblock rather than a sunscreen. Although some sunscreens provide adequate protection against cancer and sunburn, they may fail to act as a barrier against the aging effects of the sun.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunblock that provides protection against both ultraviolet (UV) B and A rays. While it's UVB rays that cause cancer, it's the UVA rays that penetrate the skin more deeply, damaging the elastic fibers that keep the skin taut and resilient.
Check ingredients. Your sun block should contain either titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or Parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone). These ingredients act as an opaque shield between your skin and the aging effects of the sun.
How to Use Sunblock
Ignore "waterproof" claims. Sun block should be reapplied as soon as your skin becomes wet.
Don't assume higher is better. A super-high sun protection factor (SPF) does not guarantee all-day protection. Stick with SPF 15 and re-apply continuously until sundown.
Shelter your skin for 30 minutes after applying sunblock by remaining indoors or wearing protective clothing. Sunblock does not protect you instantaneously.
Apply all over. Even feet exposed to the sun become course, rough and wrinkled. Can't bear to show yourself in your true colors? Consider self-tanners.
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