Beat the Heat: Summer Skincare Tips for Healthier Skin
8 Minutes
Team Curative
Jun 22, 2024
Did you know that skin is the human body's largest — and most visible — organ? It makes sense that people have gone to great lengths to maintain beautiful, healthy skin for centuries.
In recent years, awareness of skincare and skin health has surged in popularity. The human body’s largest organ is the subject of constant new discussion, trends, and research. The skincare industry is worth an estimated $180.3 billion globally as of 2024 and is projected to generate up to $129 billion in revenues alone by 2028.
One product that continues to see staggering growth within the larger skincare market is sunscreen. In 2020, the global value of sun care products was $10.7 billion. That number is projected to grow by 4% each year until 2028. By the end of the decade, the sector is expected to reach upwards of $14 billion.
Why the uptick in the skincare and sun care product markets? Dr. Abigail Waldman, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, states “I think there is a more pervasive media representation of [the benefits of] wearing sunscreen, like preventing aging and preventing skin cancer,” Waldman said in a phone interview. “It’s a message that’s out there.”
In addition to using skincare products like sunscreen, you can engage in preventive care practices to achieve healthy, glowing skin. With summer coming up, take note of the following preventive care tips to avoid skin issues.
What is UV exposure and how does it increase in the summer months?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of energy that the sun produces. You can’t see UV radiation because its wavelengths are shorter than visible light. The UV energy the sun produces reaches the Earth and provides vitamin D for your body to help you survive. You can also find UV radiation in human-made sources like tanning beds. Too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
There are three types of UV rays: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA is the most abundant source of solar radiation at the earth’s surface and penetrates beyond the top layer of human skin. UVA radiation is believed to cause damage to connective tissue and increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. UVA also causes your skin to wrinkle, tan, and burn. UVB rays penetrate less deeply into the skin, but can still cause some forms of skin cancer. Natural UVC rays do not pose a risk because they are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere.
The summer months bring sunny weather and outdoor fun, but not without risk. Sunlight exposure is highest during the summer and between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Traveling, working outdoors, or doing anything outside during these times increases the chances of getting sunburned. Scorching temperatures, harmful UV rays, and increased humidity can lead to various skin issues if you don't take proper precautions and preventive health measures.
What are the health implications of UV exposure?
Exposure to the sun causes permanent changes to your skin. Too much exposure to the sun can speed up the effects of aging and increase your risk of developing:
Skin cancer
Wrinkles
Freckles
Liver spots
The sun’s ultraviolet light can also damage the fibers in your skin called elastin. When elastin breaks down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. So, sun damage is not always immediately visible and can develop over time.
Other skin changes and issues related to sun exposure include:
Precancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous skin lesions caused by loss of your skin’s immune function
Tumors
Skin discoloration, mottled pigmentation, or a yellow tone
Dilated small blood vessels (telangiectasias)
Damaged elastic tissues that cause wrinkles (elastosis)
Damage to your eyes, like cataracts or macular degeneration
Premature aging
Why is prevention so important?
Sun damage accumulates over the years, from prolonged outdoor exposure and even simple activities like gardening, going from your car to the store, bringing in the mail, or walking the dog. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following to protect yourself from sun on a day-to-day basis:
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you:
Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Avoid getting sunburned.
Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds.
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside; reapply as needed.
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
See a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
The National Weather Service also provides the following tips for healthy skin and preventive care for people who may be spending more time outdoors than usual this summer:
Use extra caution near water and sand. These surfaces reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Check the UV index each day. The higher the UV index, the more you should do to protect yourself from the sun. When planning outdoor activities, follow EPA’s safety recommendations.
Get vitamin D safely. The skin needs sunlight to help manufacture vitamin D, which is important for normal bone health. However, overexposure to UV light can be detrimental by damaging and killing skin cells.
Protect children from UV rays. Children, the elderly, and those with special needs may need extra precautions or be more sensitive to the sun. Children tend to spend more time outdoors, can burn more easily, and may not be aware of the dangers of UV exposure. Parents and other caregivers should protect children from excess sun exposure by using the steps above. Babies younger than six months should be kept out of direct sunlight and protected from the sun using hats and protective clothing.
How does preventive healthcare access support patients with skin-related conditions?
Each year in the United States, nearly six million people are treated for skin cancer. The annual medical cost of treating skin cancer is $8.9 billion. Overall wellness and access to preventive care are key for those who want to avoid getting skin diseases and those who may already have skin issues.
Preventive care encompasses routine healthcare including screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling to prevent illnesses, diseases, or other health problems.
Access to primary care physicians and specialists is critical to preventive care. Patients who see their provider regularly receive skincare-related services:
Counseling and instruction about UV exposure
Advice about how to prevent or minimize UV exposure
Information about warning signs
Skin cancer screenings
Long-term relationships with providers also increase a provider’s awareness of changes in skin conditions or abnormalities. Bruce Brod, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist on faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, regarding using patients’ skin to consider their overall health, "You can tell a lot about somebody by looking at their skin…One of the first things a dermatologist can tell by looking at someone is how much outdoor exposure they’ve had by the appearance of sun damage for their age," said Dr. Brod. "Things like wrinkles, spots, uneven pigmentation, and loss of elasticity."
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends seeing a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
Curative: Supporting whole-body preventive health measures
Curative offers innovative, employer-sponsored comprehensive health insurance. Our plan is transparent in pricing, benefits, and wellness incentives. Curative helps employers provide preventive care services that members need to live happier, healthier lives.
Ongoing relationships with primary care providers mean Curative members receive guidance in preventing and caring for UV-related skin conditions. Curative covers teledermatology appointments and dermatology screenings, making it easy to care for your skin. Here is how Curative works:
Get covered by Curative.
Get a Baseline Visit in the first 120 days.
Meet your Care Navigator and learn all about the plan.
Continue with $0 out-of-pocket costs for in-network care and be the healthiest version of you.
Learn more about Curative here.
References
The Smithsonian Institute. (Accessed 2024). Cosmetics and Personal Care Products in the Medicine and Science Collections. Skin Care. https://www.si.edu/spotlight/health-hygiene-and-beauty/skin-care.
Howarth, Josh (2024, June). The Ultimate List of Beauty Industry Stats (2024). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/beauty-industry-stats#skincare-products-stats.
Asmelash, Leah (2023, July). What’s driving sunscreen’s big boom. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/19/style/sunscreen-spf-boom-supergoop-cec/index.html.
Durden, F. (2022, October). UV rays and cancer. https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/skin-cancer/risk-factors/uv-rays
Cleveland Clinic (2022, November). Ultraviolet Radiation and Skin Cancer. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10985-ultraviolet-radiation.
The Skin Cancer Foundation (2023, December). Skin Cancer Prevention
Protect Yourself With a Complete Approach. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/.
National Weather Service. Protect Yourself, Family and Pets from Excessive Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation. https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-uv.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2024, February). UV Index Scale. https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-scale-0.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2024, May). Health and Economic Benefits of Skin Cancer Interventions. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/priorities/skin-cancer.html.
The Skin Cancer Foundation (2021, June). Ask the Expert: Can I Go to My Primary Care Physician for a Skin Exam? https://www.skincancer.org/blog/primary-care-physician-for-a-skin-exam/.
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Table of Contents
What is UV exposure and how does it increase in the summer months?
What are the health implications of UV exposure?
Why is prevention so important?
How does preventive healthcare access support patients with skin-related conditions?
Curative: Supporting whole-body preventive health measures
