If you're a dermatologist, you know that protecting your skin at the beach means doing more than just applying sunscreen. "You should also pack an umbrella so you can seek shade during the sun's strongest hours from (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), wear protective clothing and accessories, such as wide-brimmed hats and UV-protectant sunglasses, and my favorite secret beach item—a neck gaiter or neck bandana," says Jerome Garden, MD, director of the Physicians Laser and Dermatology Institute in Chicago. He, like Jaliman, also recommends Coolibar products to most of his patients, specifically the bandana scarves. "Protecting your neck from the sun can help avoid changes to your neck as you age, such as poikiloderma of civatte (the so-called 'red neck'), cutis rhomboidalis nuchae and general neck skin laxity," he adds. "While many of these skin changes can be helped with various lasers and devices, save yourself some money and invest now in a simple way to protect your neck!"
Even if it is a cloudy day, Marnie Nussbaum, MD, dermatologist at Medical, Cosmetic & Laser Dermatology in New York City, urges patients to protect their skin with at least 30 SPF and not to forget a hat and sunglasses. "The skin on lips is extremely thin, making them more vulnerable to sun damage," she adds. "In order to protect them, it is important to have a lip balm with SPF in your beach bag." She loves this one from EOS because it offers SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection and provides 80 minutes of sweat and water resistance.
"When you go to the beach, everyone always remembers to bring their sun protection, but usually forgets about their after sun care," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. "Especially when you have been out in the sun, the skin can become inflamed and the barrier disrupted." To help treat the skin after being in the sun, he recommends light moisturizers, especially those with aloe vera. "They help hydrate and protect skin barrier without weighing the skin down and preventing heat from evaporating," he says.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat / UV Protective Primer, $28
Don't forget that your hair. Just like your skin, hair is affected by the sun's harsh rays. Angela J. Lamb, MD, director at Westside Dermatology Faculty Practice, relies on hair protectants like this one from Bumble and Bumble. "It's not made for the beach, but you can spray it on prior to being in the sun to give your hair great UV protection, shine and moisture to protect it from the elements," she says. "You also want to try to minimize heat (blow-drying) when spending long days at the beach or pool because the wind, chloride and salt can already do damage."
For Shelley Fox, DNP at All Island Dermatology, Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in New York, sunscreens with SPF lower than 50 won't cut it, which is why she turns to this 60-SPF sunscreen by La Roche-Posay. "Despite its high SPF, it feels extra light and soothing when applied, making it a great option for patients with sensitive skin," she says. "It's also paraben-free, so you can feel good about applying it to your skin." Aside from sunscreen, her best recommendation to patients headed to the beach is to wear UV protective clothing and swimsuits. One of her favorite brands is Lululemon, which has a large selection of athletic wear and bathing suits offering UV protection.
