Enjoy The Sun Without Risking Your Health

We look forward to summer all year. It means fresh produce, barbecues, bathing suits, laughter, a break from school, and of course, luxuriating in the sun. Summer can also mean damaged skin, sun-spots, sunburn and subsequent peeling, and dryness. While many of us look forward to getting out in the sun and getting our summer "tan" it is important to remember that there are precautions and measures that we should be taking in order to protect our skin. Being "tan" is no longer as trendy as it used to be.

The first big precaution you should take in the summer months is to wear sunscreen. There is a wide variety of sunscreen available, from lower SPF to extremely high SPF. The higher the SPF the greater protection you will receive. Remember that if you are going to be involved in water activities you will want to make sure that your sunscreen is water resistant. It is also important that you put high SPF sunscreen on your children, especially toddlers. Their sensitive skin can get burned easily, and should always be protected. It is advised that sunscreen be reapplied every two hours if you are active and out in the sun, as sweat (even on water resistant sunscreen) will cause the sunscreen to wear off.

It is important to remember that all skin types, even darker skin, is susceptible to sunburn, sun-spots and skin cancer, so it is important for every ethnicity and skin type to wear sunscreen. While sun protection is finding its way into a lot of beauty products such as foundation and other cosmetic materials, these are generally not applied evenly, and are not reapplied throughout the course of the day, so while helpful, they should not necessarily be depended on for your total sun protection.

Be aware of the spots that are passed over or often neglected when you apply sunscreen. Be aware that your chest, around your neckline, is often a spot that is missed, particularly if we are not out in a bathing suit. The lips and the back of the hands are also two often forgotten spots. There are many lipsticks and glosses which also contain sun protection and should be used regularly throughout the day.

Enjoy your summer, but don't neglect your skin. Your appearance and your health will benefit from careful and diligent protection, as well as exfoliation and hydration throughout those hot months.