Too Much Time in the Sun?

Tis’ the season for sun, water sports and relaxing poolside. And chances are many of you may be trying to soak up every last minute of summer before getting into the full swing of things again. This time of year nothing beats some good fun in the sun, but of course the after effects of too many rays can be far from pleasant.

So what can you do if you’re experiencing the lobster effect? For anything serious, see a doctor, but for minor burns you’ll have to focus on rebuilding the skin. Look for skin care formulas that use ingredients like hydrocortisone, bisabolol, arnica, thermus thermophilus ferment, Shea butter, and mugwort. These have anti-inflammatory capabilities, decrease pain, and the thermos thermophilus ferment can help take the heat out of the skin. (This can also work with razor burn.)

Find formulas that focus on reducing discomfort, accelerate healing, and have soothing, anti-itching, anti-inflammatory and hydrating capabilities. To rebuild the skin, antioxidants will be key. These, in essence, provide a second line of defense against free-radical and UV damage, which disrupt the cells and speeds the skin’s aging process. Antioxidants, like the ones found in the RA for Men's Complex VI, work to hydrate and repair – two essential steps after a burn. Skin-building ingredients include:

• Soybean protein (glycine soja)– a botanical derived from the soybean plant, it contains linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acid and isoflavones and works to inhibits skin breakdown.
• D-Boldine– a natural alkaloid from Boldo, a tree native to Chile. It is a powerful antioxidant, protects cells and reduces inflammation.
• L-Glutathione– a crucial antioxidant defense system, it protects against environmental damages and regulates antioxidants within skin cells.

While healing and rebuilding is necessary, the most important thing of all is to protect the skin from further damage with a good sunscreen! Look for zinc-based sunscreens. These will cause less irritation to the skin than chemical-based formulas. Hopefully you don’t have to test this method for healing the skin after a burn, but if you do…remember to hydrate, nourish and protect.

Click here for more information on the Complex VI.