Creative Sun Protection

Naturally rich, dark skin is beautiful. The truth is not everyone is blessed with this trait. I am of French-Irish descent and was simply not meant to have a deep tan by nature. Protecting my skin from the sun was not always a priority, but now that I am over forty, skin care has taken on a new urgency. Fortunately I have found there is plenty you can do to protect your skin and heal damage from the inside out.

Creative Sun Protection

Fill your plate
Eating foods rich in antioxidants can make a big difference in how your skin reacts to the sun's UV rays. Healthy nutrient rich foods really make a difference in how your body reacts to the sun. Specifically, beta carotene, vitamin C, zinc and selenium are important factors to include. These can increase the production of collagen, which is a major component in skin tissue. Watermelon and tomatoes have also been found to actually reduce the risk of sunburn by a whopping 26%. They heal the skin through the fruits tissue-healing lycopene.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Drink plenty of water to help your body function at the optimum level. Aside from water though, green tea contains polyphenols which are a type of antioxidant. Green tea has been in the news for all sorts of health-boosting benefits, not the least of which is sunburn protection. Even directly applying cool tea bags to sore skin is a good treatment.

You can leave your hat on
Even if you are unaccustomed to wearing hats, give it a try. Experiment with different styles keeping in mind your face shape and proportions. If a wide brimmed sun hat doesn't work for you, or your lifestyle, try a fedora, baseball cap, straw cowgirl hat, anything to provide extra protection from the sun.

Ignore the beat
Even if "everyone if doing it" stop tanning. The lure to tan can be strong even among the over forty crowd, or especially among the over forty crowd since looking youthful is still very important. Be like the tortoise, slow the aging process by stopping unnecessary damage. If you must look tan, apply bronzer or self-tanner...sparingly. If you are patient and careful the self-tanning products can be surprisingly authentic without the bonus wrinkles.

Apply and reapply
Look for a product you will use. Personally I can not stand most creams on my face, so I was thrilled when I came across this powder with SPF 20 by Physicians Formula. Even if I buy a strong sunblock, it really doesn't do much good if I avoid using it. Roll-on sunblock and purse-sized containers also make it easier to remember.

Cover up
Serious sun calls for serious protection. Slip on sun protection clothing, either specially designed to shield you from UV and UVB rays, or light weight, tight weave fabric. Blue is said to be the most effective color for naturally blocking UV rays.

More by Sylvie Branch:
Tips for handling spring allergies
Green Tea Super Food Smoothie Recipe
Growing Garlic