Prepare to Go Bare With These Summer Skin Tips

Show off your skin with confidence this summer! Read our tips on beating acne, shaving and waxing without irritation, faking a gorgeous tan, and more.

The weather is what draws a lot of people to life in the desert, but the strong summer sun can damage your skin. Keep reading for some tips that will help you get your skin ready for Tucson’s most extreme season:

Wear Sunscreen

Walking out of the house without sunscreen leaves your skin completely susceptible to sun damage and increases your risk for skin cancer. Wearing sunscreen whenever you go outside helps you prevent wrinkles and sunspots. It can also prevent you from developing melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. You should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to keep your skin protected from dangerous UV rays.

Stay Hydrated

Even though Tucson has a dry heat, it is still important to keep your skin hydrated throughout the summer. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to ensure that your body stays hydrated. Drinking enough water is one of the easiest ways to keep your skin looking and feeling its best

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Keep Covered

Give your skin even more protection from the sun by wearing clothing that covers large amounts of skin. If you are planning to spend a lot of time outside, you should wear a hat and sunglasses. Try to stay in the shade whenever possible to avoid direct exposure to UV rays.

Treat Sun Damaged Skin

If your skin is already showing signs of sun damage, the staff at the medical spa can help. Skin treatments like chemical peels, Intense Pulsed Light Photofacial Rejuvenation Treatment, and even regular facials can help you keep your skin in the best condition.

5 tips dailly for healthy skin

Good skin care — including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

Don't have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun
One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

    Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
    Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
    Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
 Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
  Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
  Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some     moisture remains on your skin.
  Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.