Dear Red Hot Mamas- July 2015

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: July 14, 2015

“Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been.”

                                                                        Jimmy Buffett

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

Because of the intense heat this summer my skin has taken a toll. My skin has become overheated and dried out. Just where has all that baby soft skin I once had disappeared to? Lately, I’m spending more money on anti-aging creams than on airline tickets! And, through all of this, I still haven’t found that one and only “miracle” cream.

During my teens, it was in vogue to slather on baby oil and bake in the sun. Oh, how healthy I looked. But, that type of thinking has disappeared like the dinosaurs. We now know that tanning is as harmful as smoking is to the lungs. And, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US. So, it’s important for all of us to stay out of the scorching sun which can cause irreversible damage to our skin.

Sun damage can: worsen wrinkles, cause blotchy sunspots, and it may cause tough and leathery skin. It also can cause skin cancer.

Here’s some tactics to keep sun’s damage to a minimum:

• For daily use, use products with SPF 15 or 30. On days of intense sun exposure, choose a sunscreen with the highest SPF you can find. Just remember, the higher the SPF the thicker the product usually is.
• Put sunscreen on often and apply it liberally. And, don’t wait to the last minute to put it on and go outdoors. Sunscreen takes about 20 minutes to soak into the skin to be effective.
• If you wear makeup during the summer, look for one that has a sunscreen in it.
• Don’t be afraid to wear a hat to block the sun from your head and face.

Your lifestyle also plays a big part in the way your skin looks. If you spend too much time outdoors, if you have lots of stress, smoke, or drink too much alcohol, these factors may determine how great, or bad, your skin looks. So I encourage you to adapt a healthy lifestyle if you want super skin.

Here’s another little to-do list:

• Cleanse your skin thoroughly every night with a gentle cleanser
• Choose a moisturizer with a sunscreen
• Be gentle with your skin
• Drink plenty of water
• Quit smoking
• Exercise
• Enjoy that glass of wine, but avoid overindulging

Be realistic about what you expect from skin care products- and, remember, there are no “miracle creams”

In closing, good skin care is good health care. When you protect your health, you will be rewarded with healthy skin regardless of your age.

Wishing you all, a healthy summer and laugh lines that you find beautiful!

 

Good health to you all,

Karen Giblin