fierceSunHat

Even if you love hot, steamy, mid-summer weather, sky-high temps can threaten your health, damage your skin and sap your energy. Check out our Fierce hat advice and other hot tips to increase your enjoyment. (Photo: Pauline St. Denis/Getty Images)

Just last week, a heat wave swept across parts of the South and Northeast with temperatures spiking as high as 100 degrees in Texas and the mid-90s around New York and Washington, D. C.

Even if you love hot, steamy, mid-summer weather, sky-high temps can threaten your health, damage your skin and sap your energy. Here’s a little advice on surviving the season’s hottest days, while enjoying the sunshine.

Time it right. The sun’s intensity peaks between 10 a,m. and 4 p.m. so plan for early morning walks or trips to the beach, or chill by the shoreline in the late afternoon and early evening. If you have to go out in the midday sun, make sure you are wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and a proper hat.

Practice expert screening. If you’ve been getting by with an SPF 15 moisturizer, you are prematurely aging your skin. “Black don’t crack,” but sun damage can make your skin sag or lose its smooth texture. While our risk of skin cancer is lower than other races, we still develop skin cancer. Try a great sunscreen like the Anthelios line by La-Roche Posay. The company has mastered the art of creating non-greasy, invisible, but powerful sunscreens that are great under makeup.

Drink up. If you’re exercising in the heat (a bad idea, by the way), you need four cups of water an hour to stay hydrated. Even if you’re just outdoors, keep drinking water; do not wait until you are thirsty. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks — both increase dehydration.

Wear protection. Nothing beats a great sunhat, and for prolonged exposure, sun protective clothing, like a light wrap or shirt. The perfect hat should be SPF 50 or better, with a 3 and 1/2 to 4-inch brim, not loosely woven straw. Try these sites to find fabulous sun protection gear: San Soleil, Solumbra, Swimoutlet.

About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being

We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.

To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.