It’s summer time and the livin' is easy. From pool parties and beach runs to holiday backyard BBQs (looking at you, 4th of July), people tend to up their outdoor festivities from June to early September. With all the fun going on, it is easy to forget about the toll it can take on your skin.
Don’t get us wrong. This isn’t a doom and gloom thing. Get out there and enjoy! Just remember to give your skin some extra love while you’re doing it. Here are some things to keep in mind while caring for your biggest organ during the summer months.
Your Epidermis Is Showing
The skin that we see and touch everyday is called the epidermis; it is the top layer of three layers that make up the organ. On a cellular level, the epidermis itself isn’t a single layer (even though it looks like it). The epidermis is actually a few sheets of cells, all with their own job, such as making new skin cells and shedding old ones. The epidermis is also where melanin lives. That gives skin its pigment.
The dermis is under the epidermis. It holds elasticity and collagen. It also contains sweat glands, blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles! And finally, the subcutis is a layer of fat under the dermis that serves as a supportive barrier between the top skin layers and our body’s tissues. Basically, it insulates and protects our innards and gives the body its smooth contours!
As you can see, the skin is pretty busy.
Tip: Healthy skin is better prepared to face the elements. Support your skin with a specialty lotion like Canna River’s Body Lotion. More on that later, but we formulated it with an epic blend of nourishing extracts, including 2500mg of Broad Spectrum CBD!
Good Day, Sunshine
Funny enough, just like there are three layers of skin, there are three types of ultraviolet radiation moving toward us from the sun. They are UVA, UVB, and UVC. The first two are the ones we have to look out for during sunny adventures, as UVC never reaches us. Earth’s atmosphere absorbs it.
You’re probably wondering what UVA and UVB do exactly. Well, UVA rays are typically responsible for aging the skin, causing wrinkles and elasticity loss, whereas UVB rays are the main culprit in increasing skin cancer risk (and causing all those pesky sunburns).
Now, before you swear off UV rays forever, it should be noted that they can be beneficial to some extent. UVB rays are also responsible for helping us naturally produce Vitamin D! However, we don’t need much sunlight to get a good dose. Only 10 - 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a few times a week should do the trick. During the summer, you can produce around 1000 IUs of Vitamin D in 10 minutes! So keep your sunblock handy. If you start to tan, you’ve gone too far.
Tip: If premature aging is a concern, remember that it’s 10 minutes of any exposed skin. You can cover your face with a hat and sunblock and still reap the rewards through your arms, legs and/or trunk.
Staying Safe
Did you know that a sun tan is actually damaged skin? It’s true. People usually equate sun burns with sun damage but actually, any time you get a tan, you have injured skin. The melanin in your epidermis reacts to UV rays by absorbing it. When the skin is overwhelmed, it produces more melanin (hence deepening pigment).
Some folks who love tanning have taken to artificial means to keep their glow without sun damage. That is an option, of course. If tanning isn’t your bag, just keeping the sunblock handy (and taking breaks in the shade periodically) does wonders!
If you do get a tan, it is important to nourish your skin with some extra soothing lotion as it heals. Our Body Lotion is a delightful blend of skin-happy ingredients, such as aloe, jojoba, shea butter, sweet almond oil and rosehip seed oil, to name a few. It is an excellent choice for daily skin support any time of year.
Tip: Avoid using specialty lotion (including ours) on sunburns unless it is formulated for that purpose. However great for supporting regular tan healing and daily skin health, less is often more when treating sunburns!
In the end, summers in the sun are a delicate dance, one that is totally worth doing. The human skin does so much and asks for little, so it’s often easy to take it for granted. But have no fear. Just take the time to give your skin some extra love and it’ll stay happy. Have fun this season!
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Some medications increase the risk of sun damage. Please talk to your physician and/or dermatologist if you have concerns about your particular needs. Spot testing is recommended whenever using a new topical. Canna River Body Lotion is not a sunblock or tanning agent. Do not ingest or use on burns, mucous membranes and open wounds.
