Kerrville is known for being a hill country paradise, with its beautiful riverbanks, majestic parks, and overall natural beauty.
Whether you are perusing the artists’ stalls at the official Texas Arts and Crafts Fair, listening to jams at the Kerrville Folk Festival or biking and camping alongside the Guadalupe River in Kerrville-Schreiner Park, it’s important to always protect your skin.
While you are outside, having fun in the sun in Kerrville, here are five tips to help you maintain your radiant skin during the warm spring and summer months:
#1: Protect your skin from the sun.
Like everything in Texas, the sun in Kerrville is big and beautiful. But too much time outside can damage your skin and take away that healthy glow. Before you head outside — whether you’re just taking the pooch for a quick walk or playing 18 holes at Riverhill Country Club — always remember to protect your skin.
Always wear a daily, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and remember to reapply it every two to three hours. When swimming, let sunscreen soak in for at least 15 minutes before taking the plunge, and wear a shirt with a UV protection factor whenever possible. Wide-brimmed hats, large sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts also offer added protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays.
#2: Avoid peak sun hours.
If you are planning to kayak down the Guadalupe, ride on the trails in Kerrville-Schreiner Park or take a refreshing dip in the Olympic Pool, try to schedule playtime outside of peak sun hours, when the sun is at its most intense.
Whenever possible, avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are out during these peak times, remember to take frequent breaks from outdoor activities and seek shade whenever you can.
#3: Moisturize every day.
Warm weather can be just as irritating to sensitive skin as colder temperatures — sometimes, it can be even worse! Sun exposure and the juxtaposition of hot outside temperatures with frigid indoor air conditioning can cause sensitive skin to become extremely dry and irritated.
To get back your radiant skin, use a mild, moisturizing cleanser and cool water to wash your face every day, followed by a gentle exfoliator twice a week to remove dead skin cells and keep pores clear. Also, use a daily moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin to rehydrate dry skin.
Most people associate dry, irritated skin with cold weather months, but summer heat can also be extremely drying to the skin. Use a daily moisturizer with ingredients such as lactic acids, alpha hydroxyl acids, glycerin or antioxidants to help restore moisture to your skin year-round.
#4: Always drink lots of water!
Water is critical to maintaining radiant skin all year, but especially when you are outside in the sun and the heat for a long time. Warm temperatures zap moisture from the air and your skin, causing it to become dry and flaky. To keep skin well hydrated and looking great, always make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
If you start to feel dehydrated — extreme thirst, dry mouth, and lips, flushed skin, dizziness or muscle cramps — take a break immediately and get something to drink. Drinking plenty of fluids not only makes your skin look great, but it also helps to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
#5: Ditch the makeup.
It may sound unbelievable — and maybe even a little scary — but less makeup can actually make your skin look more radiant! Warm weather means long, sweaty Texas days. When you sweat, makeup tends to run and can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. For best results, try to use less makeup or skip the foundation and use a moisturizer and loose powder instead.
If you have sun-damaged skin or premature wrinkling, there are many available treatment options to improve your skin’s texture and restore its youthful glow. Chemical peels can be used to help minimize the effects of sun-damaged skin by removing the top layer of skin with a chemical application. Soft tissue fillers injected beneath the skin can also help to replace the body’s natural collagen.
Other treatments such as Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing use high-energy light to burn away sun-damaged skin, as well as minimize the appearance of wrinkles and scars.
Want more tips on how to maintain radiant skin while enjoying spring and summer in the beautiful Hill Country of Kerrville? Contact one of our board-certified dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners today to make an appointment.
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