Were you concerned with sun damage in your teens and 20s? Of course not, and neither was I. We were young and nothing could hurt us! If you were a teenager or young adult woman during the 90s, you were probably familiar with tanning beds. I was a frequent tanning bed user for many years during my young adult life. I’m not going to lie, I loved them. They were a quick and easy way to keep that sun-kissed look year-round. In some ways, I think tanning beds were quite addicting. They were very relaxing, with the hum of the bed, the warmth of the lights, and the roar of the fan. You could escape the world for 20-30 minutes and feel great about yourself when you left. Now 20-30 years later, if you are like me, you’re regretting all the time spent tanning. What should we do now?

Visit the Dermatologist

If you’ve never been to a dermatologist, this would be a great time to start. At your initial visit have the dermatologist check your skin for sun damage. Sun damage can present itself as wrinkles, skin sensitivity, rough and itchy patches, age spots, or abnormal moles. The dermatologist can provide recommendations of ways to reduce the effects of sun damage. It is important to track the sun-damaged spots from year to year, as some may have a higher percentage of turning into skin cancer. After your initial visit to the dermatologist, you should continue to follow up with them annually or as often as your doctor recommends.

Limit Time in the Sun to Prevent Sun Damage

Limiting time in the sun is one of the best ways to protect your skin from additional sun damage. This one is a hard one for me, as I love the feel of the sun on my skin. If you’re like me and you like to be outside on sunny days, there are some ways to still protect your skin. Limit your time in the sun during the hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is the part of the day with the strongest sun rays and causes the most damage to our skin.

Wear Protective Clothing

When possible, wear clothing that covers the majority of your skin while you are out in the sun. This took me a while to adapt, as I was so sure that if I wore clothing to cover my skin while in the sun I would be so hot and sweaty. But I have learned wearing the right clothing in the sun actually does not make me more hot or sweaty. The keys to this are the color, type of fabric, and fit of the clothing.

Clothing Color

I have found that darker colors absorb more heat and do make me feel hotter. But lighter colors don’t protect my skin enough from the sun. What has worked for me are bright colors as they don’t absorb as much heat as dark colors and they protect my skin from the sun’s UV rays better than pale or light colors.

Type of Fabric

The type of fabric is also an important aspect of finding clothing that protects us from the sun but doesn’t make us feel too hot. Synthetic fabrics, Such as polyester and rayon, are best for protecting skin from the sun’s rays. There are many polyester shirts nowadays that have moisture-wicking properties that are also very helpful in protecting the skin from sun damage while keeping us cool.

Clothing Fit

Tight clothing protects our skin less from sun damage. Looser clothing also allows airflow between the clothes and skin and makes us feel cooler. So give yourself some breathing room and loosen up those clothes while out in the sun!

Wear Sunscreen to Prevent Further Sun Damage

I know, I know! Why didn’t we listen to our Mothers earlier? As usual, they were right–we should wear our sunscreen to protect our skin and prevent sun damage. Even though we may be late to the game, we should at least get in the game and start applying that sunscreen now. Anytime you plan to be out in the sun, apply sunscreen to any part of your skin that will be exposed to the sun. It is best to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. Dermatologists recommend a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF (sun protection factor). Remember to reapply your sunscreen if you will be out in the sun for an extended period of time.

Stop the Tanning to Prevent Further Sun Damage

There are great self-tanning lotions today that are so simple to use and produce a very natural looking tan. I’ve been using tanning lotions for some time now. They have improved significantly in the last several years. A few tips to applying self-tanners are exfoliating your skin before use, apply an oil-free lotion to your hands, elbows, knees, and feet before applying the self-tanner, apply self-tanner in a cool, dry place to limit perspiration, and exfoliate the palms of hands after applying self-tanner.

Self Examinations of Skin

Between each visit to the dermatologist, we should self-examine our own skin to keep an eye out for anything that is not normal. Make it part of your shower routine. If you see any changes to any spots on your skin or if you have any areas that begin to itch or bleed, be sure to call your dermatologist for a check-up. Catch changes early so they can be taken care of before they turn into something more serious.

I know I have been terrible to my skin over the years. Now that I am older and have several sun damaged areas on my skin, I have realized how important these steps are. Let’s start protecting our skin now. We can do this, ladies! And of course, don’t forget the big, cute sun hats!

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