Summer Skin Care by Sheri It's summer and it's hot outside! How do you keep your skin healthy when dealing with sun and heat? That's what I've researched for this month's article. I moisturize my skin, drink a lot of water (and iced tea! LOL) and use a basic lip gloss but that's about it, so I'm curious about what else I can be doing also.

I found a great website all about mother and child health: http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Healthy/summerskin.html

There's an excellent article there by Lori Stryker, that says in part:

"A good skin care regimen for most skin types during the summer months is the following:

1. Cleansing with a natural, vegetable soap or soap-based cleanser.

2. Exfoliation, not exceeding once or twice per week

3. Hydrate your skin with an alcohol free, natural toner or fill a clean, sterile spray bottle with filtered water and mist over the face after cleansing or exfoliation.

4. Moisturize with a light, all natural moisturizer. Creams and lotions with petroleum based ingredients tend to clog the pores unnecessarily.

5. Massage a face oil or moisturizer into the skin at night. Massaging serves to increase circulation to the skin, which helps the natural rejuvenation processes which take place during sleep.

6. Keep lips protected and moisturized with a lip balm, lip gloss or lipstick, preferably containing a natural sunblock such as titanium dioxide.

7.Cover up to reduce the amount of exposure to the sun with a wide brimmed hat, long and loose fitting clothing. Ninety percent of skin cancers are due to chronic sun damage and eighty percent of wrinkles arise from photoaging.

Any skin care discourse which does not include a discussion of nutrition is lacking a fundamental principle of healthy skin care. Good health and beauty are synonymous. For instance, a clogged and spotty complexion can be linked to a diet high in saturated fats and sugar. Sensitive skin may become worsened by poor digestion or inadequate absorption of nutrients. Dry flaky skin may reflect a diet low in fatty acids or vitamin E. Skin that does not heal quickly may be low in vitamins A, B6, C or zinc. A healthy, varied diet helps the skin defend itself against infection, cell damage and premature aging, especially during the summer months. Increasing your daily intake of fresh, raw vegetables and fruit adds vitamins, antioxidants and water to your diet. Take advantage of the increased variety of fresh foods available during the summer, since a good diet is one of the essential elements for healthy, glowing skin."

Sunscreen is important. I know that some of the commercial one have chemicals that some people are sensitive/allergic too. One of my sisters is allergic to Aloe Vera! She's the only person I've ever known who is allergic to it, and she has to be careful because it's a common ingredient in so many skin and after sun products.

The Sunscreen we've used for the past few years is by Alba Botanica (a health food store brand, of course ) - I use the Lavender 30 SPF and I get the Sports SPF for my husband and kids.

They have a lot of great information on their website including this article about Natural Skin Care, including this article on Sun & Your Skin: http://www.albabotanica.com/index.php?title=Sun+%26+Your+Skin

Which says:
"To many of us, tan skin indicates a healthy, out-doorsy lifestyle. However, it doesn't necessarily indicate healthy skin. In fact, there is probably no other single factor as destructive to the long-term strength and youthfulness of skin than the sun.

Although the most immediate effects of sun-damage are endured by the surface epidermal layer of our skin in the form of sunburns and drying, over time, exposure to UV radiation can penetrate deep into the underlying dermis and negatively effect the collagen structures within (a process called photoaging). This results in an eventual reduction in skin elasticity and the development of wrinkles. In addition, the alteration of these collagen structures can weaken the tiny blood vessels that are supported within them, making the vessels more likely to rupture and lead to discoloration as well as decreased circulation.

The truth is that as much as 90 percent of the wrinkles, brown spots, and sagging skin that we usually think of as signs of aging can be attributed to sun damage, this according to the American Skin Association, a national organization for education on skin health. What's worse, skin cancer is now the most common cancer, striking more than 800,000 annually in the US.

Which is not to say that panic is in order. While these dangers are real and should be taken seriously, diligent use of sunscreen as well as a daily moisturizer -- especially one enhanced with antioxidants -- capable of replenishing essential oils lost to the sun, can go a long way towards helping skin withstand many of the external causes of aging."

I love to swim and be out in the sun, it's one of the best parts of summer. I also know that it's important to drink lots of water. Keeping hydrated keeps your skin nicer all year long.

So, go be in the sun and enjoy the summer but do remember to wear your sunscreen - (I'm practicing to remind my kids! LOL)

A few other sites I found:

Here's a great article "10 Steps to a Perfectly Clean Face" about how to best care for you own particular type of skin: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ss_cleanface.html

Here's an herbal website that has their own brand of sunscreen and lip balm - sounds nice! http://www.herbalhealer.com/natskin.html