With all the sunshine and outdoor time in Florida, it is important to have a good skin care regimen. Do it like a true Floridian! Here are skin care tips for seniors in Florida. They are perfect for anyone who wants to maintain healthy skin while enjoying life in the Sunshine State. Everyone who comes here relishes frolicking in the ocean waves, boating, swimming, sunbathing, and more all year round.
Skin Care Tips for Seniors in Florida
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Put On Sunscreen When Out in the Florida Sun for Good Skin Care
Sunscreen is a necessity in Florida to protect your skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays breach the upper skin layer, causing the skin to redden and burn. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays penetrate the deeper skin layers, resulting in observable signs of aging, such as wrinkles, and sunspots.
Dermatologists encourage using sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30, as those with higher SPFs don’t offer much more protection. To show you what we mean, here is an example of the percentage of UVB rays blocked by different SPF values:
- SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
To achieve full body coverage and protection generally requires an ounce of sunscreen. It should also be reapplied at least every two hours—more often if you are swimming or sweating a lot. Although it is always best to consult your doctor if you have sensitive skin, here are some helpful sunscreen skin care guidelines:
- If your skin typically burns after ten minutes in the sun, an SPF 15 sunscreen lets you stay longer. It allows you to stay in the sun 15 times longer, or just over two hours, without burning. Of course, this is a rough estimate, because it will vary based on skin type and the sun’s intensity.
- When buying sunscreen, make sure that the UVA protection is at least one-third of the UVB protection. High SPF sunscreens usually offer far greater UVB than UVA protection. This misleads people into thinking they have more protection than they actually do. So be sure to read the labels.
- Mineral-based sunscreens, which are often called “natural”, are not always the safest selections available today. These sunscreens usually contain only titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. For that reason, they just do not perform as well as chemically based sunscreens.
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Moisturize After a Day in the Sun
Even though the air in Florida is humid, it does not replace the moisture that you lose each day. The most effective moisturizers for humid weather are those that contain humectants, such as urea, alpha hydroxy acids, or glycerin. Humectants absorb water from the air, making them most effective in areas with high humidity. Keeping your skin moisturized helps prevent rough, dry skin and atopic dermatitis, which brings chronic red itchy skin.
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Stay Cool and Cover-Up
The sunshine is the most intense between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dermatologists recommend staying inside during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. However, outside is often where the action is. When you must be outside, in addition to sunscreen, cover your head with a hat. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and take frequent breaks indoors or in a shady area. Do not forget your cool shades!”
Enjoy Florida’s sunshine while keeping your skin protected with these simple tips! At Convivial St. Pete, coming soon to St. Petersburg, our members prioritize smart skin care while making the most of the beautiful outdoors. With a wellness program and an exciting events calendar, there will be endless opportunities to embrace Florida’s vibrant lifestyle.
To learn more about Convivial St. Petersburg’s independent living community, contact us through our website or call us at 941-220-5219.