Ah, sunshine! Ow - sunburn! The sun can surprise you, leaving you red and sore despite your best efforts to protect yourself. That’s because ultraviolet light is considerably crueler than most people realize - and harder to fend off. UVA rays penetrate the skin deeply, causing wrinkles and other related skin damage. UVB rays stop at the surface and cause burning. Both types contribute to skin cancer.

Pick the best SPF (sun protection factor). Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 for daily wear. SPF is supposed to help you determine how long you can stay in the sun before you burn. An SPF of 15 lets you linger in the sun 15 times longer before you burn than if you were unprotected. They key variable is going to be your coloring. If you are very fair and burn after 10 minutes in the sun, SPF 15 gives you about 150 minutes in the sun.

Lay it on thick. If you don’t feel as if you are overdoing it with a sunscreen, you are probably not using enough. You need a teaspoon for your face and two tablespoons for your entire body. That is a lot of cream and most people use only about half that amount. Reapply your lotion about every hour or two - even if it is waterproof.

Don’t count on cosmetics or sunscreen in hand lotions to provide adequate protection. It takes a lot of product applied regularly to provide sufficient coverage.

Tanning beds are not "safe". They still cause damage to the skin through UVB rays and can contribute to skin cancers in later years.

Wear sunglasses while out doors. UVA rays can cause damage to the lenses and retinas of the eyes. This damage accumulates over time and can contribute to cataracts and other age related diseases of the eyes.

Australia has a public awareness campaign called "Slip, Slap, Slop". It helps to remind people to "slip" into a shirt, "slap" on a hat, and "slop" on that sunscreen!

 If your sunscreen efforts fail and you do get a sunburn, there are several things to do. Use lots of moisturizing lotion on burned areas to prevent drying which leads to itching. If you have gotten a deep burn, nothing will prevent the peeling that goes with it. The lower layers have been damaged causing cellular swelling, which causes the upper layer to slough off. Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxyn can help with pain and relieve inflammation. Sometimes a cortisone injection is helpful for symptoms.

We are here to help with skin related questions. Call if we can be of any assistance!