Protecting your skin – What are you wearing?

It’s that time of year when the temperatures rise and the amount of clothing we wear falls.
For those of you headed to the shore this summer, or for those lucky enough to live here in Wilmington, a standard part of your wardrobe should be sunscreen. Even if you’re just out walking the dog, protecting your skin should be your number one priority.
But with recent reports about sunscreen not protecting skin as well as we think it will, how do you know what to buy?
According to Consumer Reports, many sunscreens claiming to be SPF 30 or even SPF 50, were found to have much lower SPF values. Some only proved to be an SPF of 8! Consumer Reports found that of thirty-five SPF 30 sunscreens, thirteen revealed a lower SPF than the label claimed. When the various brands had the opportunity to react to the report, all of them claimed that their own testing is accurate and the ratings are correct. However, Consumer Reports studies test the effectiveness of the sunscreen after being in the water for 80 minutes.
The most important lesson in all of this is to apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 every two hours for the most effective results. And, to reapply when you get out of the water, even if it’s water resistant.
If you do find yourself with sunburn, it’s good to have some aloe on hand. Either pure aloe gel, or a product like Solarcaine with aloe and Lidocaine, can provide instant relief. You’ll need to reapply every few hours depending on the severity of the burn. Pure aloe contains vitamin C and E which hydrates skin, improves firmness, reduces pain and swelling experienced in sunburn, and acts as a protective layer on the skin.
Another effect of playing in the water can be swimmer’s ear. This painful condition occurs when water gets trapped in your ear, usually after swimming. The result is inflammation, irritation, or infection. Ear plugs can be used to prevent water from getting into your ear. However, if it’s too late to prevent it, you can apply After-swim ear drops which will dry out and clear out the trapped water in the ear.
Before hitting the beach, stop by one of our stores and pick up plenty sunscreen, aloe, and ear plugs and drops for your family for a burn-free and pain-free summer!