Surprising summer skin care tips from a Hollywood dermatologist

(BPT) - Long, sunny days followed by warm, star-studded evenings are just a few reasons why summer is such a beloved season. While each day is full of possibilities ranging from relaxation to adventure and everything in between, it also presents numerous challenges for your skin. Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks dermatologists use to keep skin looking fabulous throughout the hottest months of the year.

Renowned board-certified celebrity dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., treats patients at her clinics in sunny Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, California. She knows the summer months can be particularly challenging because you want to enjoy the outdoors and soak up some Vitamin D, but also provide essential protection and nourishment for lasting skin health.

Here are her top three tips for achieving sensational skin this summer:

Adopt the sunscreen 365 approach

While sunscreen is particularly important while spending time outdoors during sunny summer days, it's just as important to take a proactive approach to sun protection all year long. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen 365 days a year anywhere above or below where you'd wear a towel after bathing, following these guidelines:

• Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 when outdoors, which will protect against 97% of UVB rays
• Use enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass when covering your entire body
• Cover your ears, the top of your feet, and other easy-to-forget patches of skin
• Reapply sunscreen a minimum every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or sweating
• Wear a hat, especially if you have thinning hair, as 10% of melanomas occur on the scalp

Dr Ava believes so strongly in the power of SPF to maintain healthy skin that she places a sunscreen in every single one of her seasonal self-curated subscription skincare boxes — The Box by Dr Ava. Driven by a deep desire to reach patients beyond her practice, Dr Ava started The Box by Dr Ava to serve consumers in “derm deserts,” offering a ‘Doc in a Box’ that features full-size, dermatologist-recommended skin and wellness products delivered right to your doorstep. Because sunscreen is so essential, a full-sized SPF product is included in every subscription, helping you to build a "sunscreen wardrobe" you can pull from to meet your unique sun protection needs throughout the year.

Heal and renew skin with home microneedling

At-home microneedling is gaining a lot of attention as an effective way to help skin look its best. A dermatologist favorite is the AnteAGE® Home Microneedling Intro Kit, a special tool with shallow, ultra thin needles, that when rolled across the skin helps to stimulate the top layers of the skin.

Doing this regularly not only helps your skin absorb your favorite products better, but it also encourages natural rebuilding of collagen and elastin, supporting a more youthful appearance.

Because of the broad benefits of home microneedling, this product is a seasonal feature for The Box by Dr Ava Summer 2021 Skincare Box. When you subscribe, you enjoy access not only to dermatologist-approved products and tools like this one, but also to Dr Ava’s professional team, exclusive digital events, a private Facebook community and Tele-Aesthetic consultations. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions and get expert advice specific to your skin care needs, no matter where you live.

Stay hydrated and eat a sun-safe diet

Your skin is your body's largest organ and it must be taken care of from the inside as well as the outside. You can boost your skin's natural defenses against sun and pollution by eating smart. In addition to traditional antioxidants in dark green leafy vegetables, flavonoids and anthocyanins (along with their derivatives) have a range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits as well as absorption or blocking properties for UV rays.

For example, anthocyanidins are found in deep red-, blue- and purple-colored foods such as eggplant, elderberry, blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, red cabbage, cranberries and cherries. Add these foods into meals and snacks throughout the day to supercharge your skin from within.

Keep in mind, what you don't eat is as important as what you do. If you're striving for more youthful-looking skin, limit simple sugars. You can enjoy natural fruit sugars but in limited amounts. Try a natural, raw, high-percentage dark chocolate as a treat over other sugary sweets. Also, limit alcohol and make smart beverage swaps. For instance, change out vodka made from potatoes or high-sugar wine for a vodka made from grapes with a low concentration and never add sugared mixers. Of course, to stay hydrated, nothing beats good old H2O.

These three tips set the stage for healthy skin throughout the summer months and beyond.

Learn more at TheBoxByDrAva.com.