The sun and you Sun skin care solutions for athletes

2006-05-16 09:53:11 The sun is good for us, providing a daily dose of Vitamin D. But being involved in outdoor sports makes it hard to avoid getting overexposed. Hence, you become a victim of the sun's rays which leads to premature aging of the skin. You can do something about it in addition to wearing sunblock. Wear a hat to shade your face (and check out the hats with the drape that extends over the back of the neck). Wear protective clothing. While full-sleeved shirts and pants are great, it can be too hot in summer. Wear bright colors that reflect away the sun's rays and never wear dark colors, which absorb heat. Sunglasses protect eyes from developing disease as you age. Cool the skin from the inside by eating green leafy vegetables and fruits that contain a lot of water, such as apples and pears. These nourish the skin too. And you know to drink plenty of water. Take warm baths in winter. Even though this isn't applicable in summer, when you are exposed to cold temperatures avoid very hot water for showers. Go for just a warm bath to eventually open the skin pores. Too much heat will dry out the skin and make it more susceptible to sun damage. Use aloe. A good moisturizer has aloe to help repair skin after it's been exposed both in summer and winter.