It’s virtually impossible not to be exposed to the sun during a typical South African summer, and there’s not much that’s nicer after a long cold winter than feeling the warm sun tingling on your skin.
However, while some sun is beneficial for the skin, too much has the opposite effect and can dry out your skin, your hair and cause lasting damage from excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays which also puts you at risk for skin cancer.
There's no getting around the fact that sunlight is hard on your skin. Age gets blamed for wrinkles and rough, dry skin. But the real culprit is a combination of age and sun that dermatologists call photoaging. The short UVB wavelengths that cause sunburn can also damage DNA. The longer, more penetrating UVA wavelengths may create highly reactive oxygen molecules capable of damaging skin cell membranes and the DNA inside.
Try these tips to help protect yourself from the dangers of the sun without ruining your summer fun: