Summer has arrived! It’s that time of year to swim at the beach, barbecue outdoors, and go to amusement parks. When spending all this time in the sun, it is important to know how to protect your skin.

Sunburn is a burn to the skin created by over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s rays and other sources. Sunburn occurs in various degrees of seriousness. A first-degree sunburn is a burn of the outer layer of skin. A sign of first-degree sunburn is when the skin turns red and hurts when touched. Second-degree burn is when the skin is red, painful, swollen and blistered. These sunburns can be treated at home by applying cool compresses over the affected area. A common mistake is applying ice, do not do this. Ice provides immediate relief, however, once removed, pain will follow. Applying an aloe vera or aloe-based products helps the burn; also taking an aspirin can relive pain. A more severe type of sunburn referred to as sun poisoning is when the whole body reacts with symptoms such as a fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Sun poisoning may need the monitoring of a physician for general condition and medications.

During the summer, it is not uncommon to see people tanning in the sun or at the salon. We all hear about the dangers of tanning, yet the tanning industry has never been more popular. Tanning trade publications reported that this $2 billion-a-year industry in the United States has an estimated 28 million Americans tanning indoors annually at about 25,000 tanning salons around the country. There are many harmful effects of tanning: not only can tanning cause cancer but tanning can have a damaging effect to the immune system and cause premature aging of the skin. Wrinkles can develop because the sun tears down collagen in the skin. The indoor tanning industry has made claims that indoor tanning is not only safe on your skin, but actually good for your skin, saying, “The benefits of sun exposure outweigh the risks associated with overexposure.” They also report that, "a tan is the body's natural protection against sunburn.”, and that ”sun exposure could actually help prevent cancer.” In 1988, however, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) determined there is no safe way to tan.



Everyone knows that using sunblock correctly can protect you from the sun, but what is the correct way? The purpose of sun block is to protect your skin from UVB, which can cause sunburn, and UVA, which damages the skin with more long-term effects, such as premature skin aging. When choosing a sun block, look at the sun protection factor (SPF). The higher the number the more protection offered against UVB and UVA. Use a sun block with a SPF of at least 15. If you are going to be in the direct sun, use a higher SPF and make sure to apply sun block 30 to 45 minutes before going outside. If you wait until you’re already outside, you will be unprotected for about 30 minutes, which is more than enough time to get sun burn. Apply a generous amount of sun block every 2 hours if you are in the water or sweating. Even sun block that is waterproof should be reapplied often. During 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM the sun’s rays are at its strongest. During this time, try to stay in shaded areas. Besides protecting your skin, your scalp and eyes also need protection. Wearing a hat and sunglasses can protect these areas of your body from the sun



Summer is the time of year to enjoy time with friends and have fun, don’t ruin your skin in the process.