Summer Cool…

Summer in Jamaica is a time of going out and looking your best. This summer promises lots of fun and lots of heat! It is a time for showing off skin but this could lead to sunburns if you are not careful. Here are some suggestions on how to protect your skin, eyes and hair during the summer heat.

Sun burns:

Wear sunscreen! But if you get your skin burnt, immediately make a pack of shredded raw potatoes or apply yogurt on the place. This should take the heat out of your skin. Do not wash with water and soap, this may cause serious injuries. If fever or chills accompany the burning, find help from a doctor. If your skin becomes red better use mask of peaches or three spoonfuls of fresh cottage cheese with a spoonful of honey.

Beautiful skin:

To keep your skin beautiful during the summer, eat more fruits and vegetables, especially in the morning on an empty stomach. They regulate your metabolism and make your skin look fresh. Good morning breakfast is important and should be followed. During the hot summer days avoid drinking of cold drinks and prefer coffee or tea.

Your Eyes:

Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Sunglasses help you in two important ways. They filter light and they protect your eyes from damaging ultra-violet (UV) rays. Mounting evidence shows that exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes. Long-term exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, or skin cancer around the eyelids. Sunglasses should be worn when you are outdoors so you can protect your eyes.

Protecting the hair:

Most people don’t think about sun damage to hair. We take it for granted but UVA and UVB can both damage the hair in a variety of ways. The UVA rays can burn the hair cuticle which is the outer hair layer. The cuticle contains a web of tiny overlapping scales. When the scales are damaged they cannot lay flat, like they are supposed to, and will look lifeless, brittle and dry. UVA rays can also burn and damage unprotected scalp. It is even possible to burn the part of your hair where scalp is unprotected. UVA rays can damage the skin on the scalp in many ways and activate free radicals which accelerates aging. Severe sunburns on the scalp have even been known to cause some cases of hair loss. Minimize your hair’s exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the rays are the most potent. If you must be out during those times, wear a cover-up to shield your strands from sun exposure. If your hair normally dries out during summer months, consider having a preventive professional deep-conditioning treatment to ward off potential damage.