How Damaging are Beach Days on Our Hands?
Although a good beach day is a lot of our favorite summer activity, they can have several damaging impacts on your hands. The first and most important is sunburns. Exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays, as covered in past blog posts, can cause sunburn on your hands. This can be painful and increase risk of skin cancer and other skin irritations or issues. Another significant impact is the reality of dehydration. Spending time in the sun can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry, cracked skin on your hands. Dry skin is often a struggle for many during the summer months and it is important to moisturize frequently in order to avoid dehydration. Saltwater exposure is another cause for hand dryness. It can be drying and irritating to your skin, especially if you spend a lot of time in the water. This can also cause your hands to become dry, cracked and rough. If regular beach days are a reality for you during the summer time, it is important to invest in a high quality hand moisturizer to ensure that you are preventing your hands from becoming too dried out. Sand abrasion is another downside of visiting the beach and a negative impact which it can have on your skin. Sand can be abrasive and cause your chances to become rough and calloused, especially if you spend time playing in the sand. Again, investing in a quality moisturizer can help tremendously to combat this issue and leave your hands hydrated and smooth. When choosing a moisturizer, look for ingredients that are known to be effective at hydrating the skin, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramics and shea butter. You can also look for products that contain antioxidants or anti-inflammatory ingredients to help soothe and protect the skin. Additionally, to get the most benefit from your moisturizer, apply it liberally to your hands after washing them or after any activity that may have caused them to become dry, such as spending time in the sun or at the beach. Try to apply moisturizer at least twice a day, or more frequently if needed. Over time, consistent use of a good quality moisturizer can help to turn around hand dryness and restore your skin’s natural radiance. Lastly, beach days can also lead to your hands suffering from chemical exposure. If you use sunscreen, insect repellent, or other chemicals while at the beach, they can be harsh on your skin and cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
PAUME Takeaways
To minimize the damaging impacts of beach days on your hands, it’s important to protect them by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, staying hydrated and even wearing gloves when handling hot sand or other abrasive materials. You can also apply a moisturizer to your hands after being in the water or after exposure to saltwater to help prevent dryness and cracking.