From polished nails to smooth, tanned skin, bronzed, beach bodies and the rest, we all want to look our best during the summer. Unfortunately, the warmer months can play havoc with our peepers. We’re all prone to dry eyes at times, and we all want to avoid those pesky crow’s feet, make no mistake. It seems that the more Vitamin-C boosting exposure to the big yellow circle in the sky, the more prone we are to the eye issues. Together with Dermalogica retailer Pure Beauty, we share our IDEAL tips for combating summer eye problems.
Itchy eyes
Pollen levels can rise in the summer, posing problems for hay fever suffers. As well as sneezing and a runny nose, symptoms can include itchy, watery eyes.
Hay fever allergy tablets, particularly anti-histamine, can help to manage the symptoms of a reaction, while closing windows and wearing sunglasses will act as a physical barrier to the irritating pollen and dust particles. If you wear contact lenses, swap them for glasses when the pollen count gets too high.
Alternatively, look for lenses that offer a small amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the lens’ surface, since this helps to stabilise the tear film and moisturise the eye.
Dry eyes
Although Britain rarely experiences tropical temperatures, even mild to warm weather can lead to some people suffering from dry eyes. Although many people associate the condition with wintry winds and weather beaten features, it can equally occur in the summer when the heat or our increased exposure to air conditioning causes our eyes to become dehydrated.
Dry eyes occur when the oil in our tears is insufficient to lubricate the eyes. Symptoms can include a dry, gritty feeling when you blink, burning or itchy eyes, redness and light sensitivity. You may also experience watery eyes — a rather ironic response to dryness.
So what is the solution? Drinking more water will help you combat dehydration, while using eye drops will work to replenish the oil your eyes are lacking. Avoiding time spent in front of a computer screen can also help, as will minimising your expose to air conditioning. It all adds up.
Preventing wrinkles
When the summer sun is bright, we can find ourselves squinting. As the skin around the eyes is thin, the number of supportive structures within the skin— such as collagen and elastin — is limited. The sun’s rays can cause this collagen and elastin to break down, leading to the development of wrinkles.
To protect the skin around the eyes, wear a pair of sunglasses with between 99% and 100% protection against UVA and UVB light. A wraparound pair offers the greatest level of protection, as they consider rays reaching your eyes from multiple angles.
