Aah, the sound of the surf and the smell of the ocean. But all that fun in the sun takes can take its toll on your family’s skin. Here’s how to protect yourselves from the summer elements.

Keep the Sun at Bay

As glorious as sunshine feels, too much of it can cause burns, changes in skin texture, dilated blood vessels and skin cancers. Ideally, try to avoid peak sun hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., during your family’s beach outings. When that’s unrealistic be smart about exposure. A half hour before you head outside, apply sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

Reapply Sunscreen Every Two Hours

Like water, sand is a reflective surface and can redirect up to 85% of the sun’s damaging rays. Therefore it’s a must to reapply your sunscreen about every two hours while sunbathing. Because sand can also be an irritant to those with sensitive skin, it’s wise to shower at the end of the day with a gentle body wash.

Use a Skin Moisturizer

Splashing around in the ocean is refreshing, but salt water can dry out your skin. So before slipping on a bathing suit, apply a good moisturizing cream or lotion to prevent moisture loss from your skin’s deepest layers. Then apply that trusty sunscreen.

Drink Water

Sweating is your body’s air-conditioning system. Perspiration is made almost completely of water, with tiny amounts of other chemicals such as ammonia, salts and sugar. Even though perspiring is a great natural cooldown, excessive sweating on a hot day could mean you’re losing too much water through your skin and washing away your sunscreen protection. To keep from becoming dehydrated, drink plenty of water and — yes, you guessed it — reapply the sunscreen.

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