You may think that if you slap on some sunscreen, that’s all you have to do to protect your skin when working outdoors.
But good skincare goes much further than that! Spending long hours in the sun, wind, and varying weather conditions—and exposing your hands to any harsh materials that you may be working with—can take a serious toll on your skin.
Sunburn, dehydration, and irritation are just a few of the symptoms that may crop up. You can keep your skin healthy and comfortable by following a few easy prevention tips.
Protect Your Skin When Working Outdoors: Understanding the Risks
Working outside exposes your skin to a range of elements that can be harmful. We all know about sun exposure. Sunburn can lead to premature aging in the skin as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.
But there are other issues as well. Wind can strip the moisture from your skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and chapped skin. Cold weather makes your skin dry and cracked, reducing its natural barrier function and making it more susceptible to infections and irritations. Heat and sweat may lead to clogged pores and acne. Dirt, debris, and chemicals may irritate your skin or cause allergic reactions.
So this isn’t just about how the skin looks, but how damaged it can become, after which you may suffer from not just dryness and dullness, but rashes, infections, and inflammation.
Protect Your Skin When Working Outdoors: 7 Tips
There’s no need to make your skin—or yourself!—suffer when you’re working outside. It takes only a few simple steps to keep your skin happy.
1. Wear protective clothing.
When possible, choose clothing that shields your skin from the sun. Long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking glasses are great additions to your work wardrobe. Fabrics like cotton and polyester can offer some protection, but UV-protective clothing is even better. Don’t forget the nape of your neck. Wear a hat with a flap or collared shirt to keep it covered.
2. Use sunscreen religiously.
Though a little sun exposure can help your body produce the vitamin D it needs, excessive hours in the sun puts your skin and your health at risk. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and apply it to all exposed skin. Reapply every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or after wiping your face. Choose a safe sunscreen made with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.
3. Stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated is crucial for your overall health, but also for your skin. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you’re sweating a lot, consider drinks with electrolytes to help replenish lost minerals. Dehydrated skin is more prone to irritation and damage, so make hydration a priority.
4. Cleanse your skin regularly.
After a long day of working outdoors, be sure to wash your skin thoroughly. This helps remove dirt, sweat, and any potential irritants or allergens that may have accumulated on the surface of the skin. Use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
5. Moisturize after washing.
Always moisturize your skin right after washing it, as well as first thing in the morning and last thing at night. This is key to maintaining a healthy skin barrier, which will then protect you when you go back outside. Look for products that lock in moisture with ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, and ceramides.
6. Mist your skin throughout the day.
Your skin can easily lose moisture as you’re working in the sun, sweating, and wiping off the sweat. Misting your skin with a hydrating spray can mean the difference between ending the day with your skin looking healthy and vibrant and ending it with dull and damaged skin.
Our Rescue + Relief Spray is perfect for this. We have a travel size you can take with you. It will fit into your pocket! Pull it out, mist your face with some welcome moisture, and go on about your work. Your skin will feel refreshed and renewed.
7. Check your skin regularly.
Regularly check your skin for any changes, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Look for any unusual spots, persistent dryness, or other signs of damage. If you notice anything concerning, check with a dermatologist. Early detection of any skin issues can help prevent more serious problems down the road.
Protect Your Skin When Working Outdoors: Common Problems
Working outdoors can sometimes lead to specific skin problems, particularly if you forget to protect your skin or suffer from exposure to an allergen or insect. Here’s how to address those issues.
1. Cracked hands
This is a frequent problem in those who work outdoors. Exposure to the elements, handling rough materials, and frequent washing can all lead to dry, cracked hands.
- Protect: Wear gloves whenever possible.
- Avoid harsh soaps: Choose gentle, moisturizing hand soaps, and avoid washing with hot water.
- Moisturize frequently: If your hands are dry, cracked, and chapped, apply our Restorative Skin Balm to help restore your damaged skin and promote speedy healing. It creates a safeguarding barrier that will protect your skin and lock in moisture. You can also apply it before you go to sleep. The effects will be even better if you wear cotton gloves to bed. For daily maintenance to keep skin moisturized, supple and healthy, keep our Body Repair Lotion with you and apply it multiple times a day.
2. Sunburn
Maybe you forgot your sunscreen or missed a spot when applying.
- Cool the skin: Apply a cool, damp cloth to the affected area. Don’t use ice directly on the skin as it can cause further damage. Our Rescue + Relief Spray has natural heat-removing ingredients that can help cool the area and reduce redness. It’s also a multiple time award winner for “best after sun soother”.
- Moisturize: Since Rescue & Relief Spray is based in an aloe vera emulsion, it’s the perfect moisturizer to help hydrate and soothe burned skin without rubbing or irritating skin further.
- Repair: Once the heat calms down, apply our Restorative Skin Balm to help ease the discomfort of swelling and irritation. It will help reduce inflammation and jumpstart healing. If you’ve burned your lips, Restorative Skin Balm helps to quickly heal cracked, chapped skin. Regular daily use of Calming Moisture for the face or Body Repair Lotion will help keep the skin healthy.
- Protect: Keep the damaged skin covered and avoid additional sun exposure until the skin heals.
3. Bug Bites
Bug bites can cause itching, swelling, redness, and irritation.
- Clean the area: Gently wash the bite area with mild soap and water to prevent infection.
- Cool the area: Spray on our Rescue + Relief Spray to immediately cool the area, and instantly calm the itch, burning, swelling, and redness.
- Apply healing balm: Our Restorative Skin Balm helps quickly heal the area, reducing inflammation and irritation.
4. Allergic Reactions
Outdoor allergens, such as pollen, certain plants, or chemicals, can cause allergic reactions like hives, rashes, or itching.
- Avoid triggers: Try to identify what’s causing the allergic reaction, then avoid those triggers whenever possible.
- Use antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines can help manage allergic reactions by reducing the histamines in your body.
- Soothe the skin: Apply our Rescue + Relief Spray to immediately soothe and calm the skin.
- Reduce the inflammation: Allergic reactions create redness and swelling. Apply our Restorative Skin Balm to help soothe the area and restore the skin to normal.
How do you protect your skin when working outdoors?
Featured image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.
