Summer is in the air. (Yay!) That means beach days, boat days, leisurely walks outside, and fun in the sun. With that in mind, it’s important to protect your skin. So, before you go out in the Florida sun today, let me help you to map out a summer strategy to protect your skin (not only for summer, but for all year long).

Tips to Protect Your Skin on the Outside

• Wear sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher (all year long)
• Protect your eyes and head with sunglasses and hats
• Be aware of new marks or moles on your body, and be sure to visit your dermatologist at least once a year
• Wear sun protectant apparel - like IBkul’s sunshirts, sundresses, skorts, and zip-ups!

Tips to Protect Your Skin from the Inside

Although we know it’s important to protect our skin on the outside, it’s also equally important to consider a healthy inside! Studies show that a diet rich in antioxidants from both food and supplements can add an inner protection against wrinkles and sunburns. To help your body to flourish, make it a point to eat these foods daily:

• Red peppers, carrots, and tomatoes - These contain cartenoids that help reduce sunburn
• Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale - These have key antioxidants
• Citrus Fruits - These can help to lower the risk of skin cancer
• Green tea - This has antioxidants that help to prevent genetic damage
• Salmon and walnuts - These contain oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help with inflammation

A delicious salmon recipe for summer - recommended by Dr. Oz - is “Hot Wild Salmon”. The recipe below yields two servings and only has 384 calories!

Hot Wild Salmon

What You’ll Need:

8 oz wild salmon fillets with skin
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1 tbsp wasabi paste
1/4 tsp turmeric

Cooking Instructions:

Prepare grill or preheat broiler. Brush skinless side of salmon with combined ginger, wasabi paste and turmeric. Grill or broil 4 to 6 inches from heat source for 10 to 12 minutes without turning, or until salmon is opaque in center.
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And don’t forget your vitamins! 

• Vitamin C strengthens the immune system.
• Heliocare is an antioxidant that targets skin and helps boost your skin’s resistance to UV rays.
• Vitamin D3 has a protective effect against sunburn and skin cancer.

Your primary doctor and/or dermatologist can also help provide a plan for you specifically. Let’s keep our skin, healthy, glowing, and protected this summer!

Related Post: Be Bright and Bold with Colors and Patterns this Summer
By: Melissa Ferguson