Rescue remedy for skin

DON'T FRY: Smart beach babes will avoid the sun and remember to apply sunscreen regularly.

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After too much fun in the sun, Kate Monahan heads to a Hamilton beauty spa for tips on treating dry and damaged skin.

It's the first week back at work for many summer holidaymakers.

But frolicking in the sun and surf, as fun as it was, is not so good when it comes to skin and hair.

Some beach babes, suffering from sunburnt and peeling skin and dry, damaged hair, may find they are in need of a beauty pick-me up.

January is the perfect time to rehydrate, exfoliate, moisturise and pamper the body and start good health habits after weeks of overindulging.

About Body beauty therapist Elena Eason says at this time of year the main skin issues are sun damage, pigmentation, sunburn and skin dryness.

"You do see a lot of those things in summer because people are outside a lot and skin dries out," Eason says. "Dehydration of the skin and body is a major problem through summer."

She says protecting and hydrating the skin is important during January and February.

Make sure to wear sunscreen every day and reapply it regularly. "We say slip, slop, slap and wrap," says About Body beauty therapist Tammy Gordon. "I don't think people realise what they have done when they get sunburnt. They may as well have gone and stuck their skin on an element or under boiling hot water. They are sizzled. Cooked."

Gordon says preventing sun damage now is better - and cheaper - than treating wrinkles, sun spots or cutting out melanoma moles later.

"That's so invasive and takes so much effort when you could have put sunscreen on and saved $400 worth of treatment," she says.

However, slathering on SPF70 sunscreen is not the best idea either.

"You want a sunscreen that is a high SPF (sun protection factor) but not too high," Eason says. "The higher it is the more chemicals are in it.

"It is better to put on SPF15 four times a day than SPF40 once in the morning. When you go swimming, especially in salt water, it tends to come off and UV rays can break it down over the course of the day."

Hydration, both inside and out, is key to good summer skin. Drinking water and moisturising face and body will help keep you looking fresh and youthful.

If skin is dry and peeling, exfoliate once inflammation has disappeared and skin has healed. You can use a loofah or at home scrub, or book a treatment at a beauty salon. "Exfoliation is great because it increases circulation and helps get rid of toxins," Gordon says. It also gets rid of peeling skin, and is essential preparation before apply fake tan.

Summer beauty is also about taking care of skin every day. "There is only so much you can do in a salon," Eason admits. "It also depends on what people do outside the salon, and what products they use."

"It's about lifestyle, and making good skin care part of your life," Gordon says. "That means eating well, keeping hydrated and using sunscreen and moisturiser every day."

- © Fairfax NZ News