Sunny Daze in South Beach

If you are planning a vacation to South Beach, Florida even in mid winter you need to be aware of the need for serious skin care. If you reside in northern climates and your skin has not been exposed to direct sunlight for several months you will need to be even more careful than those who live in southern climates and have had some sun exposure but they will need to be very, very careful as well.

Unprotected exposure of the skin to direct sunlight is never a good, safe or even very smart idea. It has been proven that when the skin is exposed to direct sunlight the possibility of skin cancer rises dramatically. If beauty is of a bigger concern than health, then be aware that skin that is exposed to direct sunlight will wrinkle much earlier and much more severely than skin that is protected.

If nothing else, a sunburn can ruin a perfectly good (not to mention expensive) vacation. If your vacation is in South Beach, even if you are not planning on soaking up rays on the beach, you will still need to pack products to take care of your skin. The sun’s rays will be intense. Be certain to pack and use these products:

1. Sunscreen: It is of the utmost importance that a water resistant sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher that will help protect your skin from harmful UV rays be kept on your skin at all times during daylight hours. The sunscreen should be applied to dry skin at least 15 minutes before going outdoors and should be reapplied after swimming or perspiring. Usually only one ounce of sunscreen per application is sufficient.

2. Lip Balm that is medicated and has an SPF of 15 or higher: Often time people will be aware of the need for sunscreen for exposed skin and completely forget that lips need protection as well. The lip balm needs to be water proof. 

3. Spray-on sunscreen for hair: Yes, your hair needs sunscreen just like your skin and your lips. There are spray-on varieties as well as leave-in conditioner varieties for the purpose of protecting the hair from damaging sun rays.

4. Cold sore/fever blister medications: Overexposure to the sun will trigger cold sores or fever blisters. You need to be prepared with medications designed to quickly heal an outbreak.

In addition to the above listed products for skin protection, be certain to pack a big, floppy hat in your South Beach vacation luggage. There are a lot of products that can help to prevent sun damage but the very best protection is prevention and a big floppy hat can keep you in the shade when there is no other shade available.

A sun burn can ruin your vacation. It can also cause you a lot of other skin problems years after your vacation is just a pleasant but distant memory...problems like skin cancer and wrinkles. You can save your vacation as well as a lot of future problems by taking precautions.