OJAI LIFE | By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela

Seven Sun Protection Tips for Summer Gardening

This article originally appeared in Ojai Monthly Magazine August 2018.

Gardening is good for the soul — as well as the body and the mind — but, while there is nothing quite like spending a Zen-like afternoon tending to your garden beds, spending too much time outdoors without the proper protection is not good for your skin.

Excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn, sun damage, wrinkles, and skin cancer, so, before you head outside to pull weeds, prune shrubs or tend to your herb garden, be sure to follow these seven tips to protect your skin from the sun.

1. Always wear sunscreen: This one should go without saying, since you should be wearing sunscreen every time you step outside, but no list of skin protection tips would be complete without at least mentioning the importance of applying sunblock. This one task reduces your risk for sun damage, sunburns and skin cancer, so don’t forget the sunscreen before heading out to work in your garden.

2. Schedule your gardening tasks: It is difficult to avoid the sun when living in Ojai, since there are few options for scheduling gardening
tasks on cloudy or overcast days. However, you can limit your sun exposure at least a bit by completing outdoor chores in the morning or evening to avoid spending too much time outside in the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead.

3. Wear lip balm with sunblock: Apply lip balm with sunblock repeatedly while working outside to protect the thinner, more delicate skin on your lips from chapping, burning and sun damage.

4. Set up a shaded work area: Set up your potting bench under a shade tree, inside a garden shed or beneath an umbrella to minimize
sun exposure while tending to your container garden.

5. Wear sunglasses: Grab your sunglasses as you head out the door to shield your eyes from UV rays and protect the delicate skin around your eyes.

6. Cover your hands and arms: I know you don’t want to wear long sleeves or gloves when it is this darn hot outside, but wearing the appropriate clothing now can save you from sunburns, sun damage, wrinkles, or even skin cancer later. Look for lightweight, breathable fabrics that are designed to offer sun protection during outdoor activities. For gloves, choose a flexible but durable option to also provide protection against scrapes, cuts, blisters, and calluses.

7. Show off your garden fashion with a wide-brimmed hat: Showing off your style with a wide-brimmed hat helps protect your face, ears, scalp, neck, upper arms, and chest from the sun, so don’t forget yours when you head outside to tend to your garden.