With summer fast approaching it’s time to say goodbye to harsh winds and snow, and hello to flowers and summer skin care. As the seasons come and go, your skin care routine must change with it. Skin care in the summer will be different from skin care in the winter. These five tips from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ali Moiin and MSU’s Healthwise Knowledgebase can help you make the transition.

1.  Avoid sun exposure

The best way to prevent a sunburn is to avoid sun exposure. Stay out of the midday sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is the strongest sunlight. Find shade if you need to be outdoors.

2. Wear protective clothing

Wearing protective clothing is another good way to protect your skin from the sun and includes items such as:

• Hats with wide four-inch brims that cover your neck, ears, eyes and scalp.
• Sunglasses with UV ray protection to prevent eye damage that may lead to cataracts.
• Loose-fitting, tightly-woven clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Clothing made with sun protective fabric. These clothes have a special label that tells you how effective they are in protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays.

3. Moisturize your skin

Moisturizing your skin daily is important. Moisturizers containing sunscreen,
hyaluronic acid and ceramides are extremely beneficial for the skin.

4. Stay hydrated

Drink 32 ounces of water each day.  Drink more if you’re active.

5. Use sunscreen

• Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, ointments and sprays. Use a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF)  of at least 15 or higher.

• Apply sunscreen to all the skin that will be exposed to the sun, including the nose, ears, neck, scalp, and lips. Apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going in the sun.

• Apply sunscreen every two to three hours while in the sun and after swimming or sweating a lot.