6 Tricks For Sun Protecting In Hot Weather

Sun protecting your skin in hot weather is a challenge. I just returned from a fabulous 3 weeks touring the hot and humid Southern Mediterranean. I had to be pretty creative to figure out how I would be sun protecting in hot weather. As a 50 something, fair skinned dermatologist I know that even a few weeks of sun exposure is going to really age my skin at this point in my life.

My wonderful vacation included touring ancient ruins on treeless hillsides, with the sun beating down from a cloudless sky and reflecting up off marble walls.  It was humid and there was often only a slight breeze to dry the sweat.   I was also on a cruise ship where the ‘culture’ is all about sun bathing. This meant that I had to improvise.  Happily, I was able to totally enjoy myself, and I’ve returned with no tan line and only a faint darkening in my freckles (age spots).   Below I list the the tricks I used.

Click here to see the products that I always depend on to sun protect the skin of myself and my family.

Dermatologist's Tips for Sun Protecting Skin in Hot Weather

1. 
   I always applied pure mineral sunscreen with 5% or more micro zinc oxide to of my skin that was not covered by a hat or clothing. The ideal broad spectrum hot weather sunscreen is Sheer Strength Pure Physical Invisible SPF 50 because it is invisible and weightless on the skin. I reapplied it for swimming and at mid day. I reapply Sheer Strength Powder SPF when I'm out because it's so easy and it helps absorb oil and sweat.
   
2. I wore a hat almost all the time when outdoors. I have crush-able hats which pack easily and they took good care of me on this trip. 
3. I covered as much of my skin as possible with clothing. I kept cool by using light colored, long sleeved UPF 50 shirts.  I washed Sun Guard Laundry Treatment into some of my favorite linen clothing for sun protection since light colored linen would normally not provide great sun protection.  I wore thicker, but loose and breezy linen or cotton pants and below-the-knee skirts.
   
   
   
   
4. I wore a UPF 50 rashguard shirt and swim tights over my swim suit if I was going to swim for more than a few minutes.
5. I used a small UPF50 sun protection travel umbrella in cities like Rome where there is often enough shade from tall buildings. I’d pop open the umbrella when I couldn’t avoid the sun.  This allowed me to skip the long sleeves and hat, and just rely on sunscreen, the umbrella and shade from buildings.
6. I’d always aim to be in the shade. I’d stand under trees, in the shade of buildings, use deck chairs that were in the shade, ride ferries on shaded areas of their outer decks-anything to be out of the direct sun.

Boy it was hot in the Southern Mediterranean! But, in spite of my hats and clothing, I don’t think I was any hotter than the other tourists who were wearing sleeveless shirts, shorts and bathing suits in the direct sun. 

A lot of people were bringing sun damaged skin home as a vacation souvenir, and they could have avoided it with just a little creative sun protection.  Sunscreen is not enough. You have to physically keep the sun rays from hitting your skin by using shade, clothing, hats, and umbrellas. 

Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey

Mix and match these tricks to suit your activities and the climate-and don’t bring sun damage home as your vacation souvenir.

Click here to see my Sheer Strength Pure Physical Spray Sunscreen, the perfect SPF for hot weather