I've been burned pretty badly in my life - twice, as a matter of fact. Not by lovers or friends, though I was burned there, too. I'm talking about the sun, which was a more painful experience than anything an old boyfriend did.
The sun tricks you. It feels so good, warming you from the inside out when you're on the beach. And it makes you feel doubly good when you look in the mirror and see a bronzed version of your ordinarily pale self. But it's terrible for your skin. If you're lucky enough to avoid a painful sunburn, you still have to deal with wrinkles, sunspots, and cancer. In fact, over a million Americans develop skin cancer every year.
Since it's unrealistic to stay in the shade all the time, the question is: How can you protect your skin and still enjoy the long days of summer?
Sunscreen: your savior
The most important step is to wear sunscreen - the higher the SPF, the better.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Without getting into scientific explanations, it determines how long it takes your skin to burn. Most of us should always use an SPF of at least 15, and the fairer your skin (the more prone you are to burning), the higher the SPF should be. For extra protection, wear moisturizers and other skin products with SPF, too.
Also make sure your sunscreen is broad spectrum. Sunlight sends out two kinds of rays: UVA, which penetrate the deep layers of your skin to create wrinkles, premature aging and cancer, and UVB, which are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer. They're both wicked, so make sure your sunscreen protects against both kinds.
It takes at least 15 minutes for sunscreen to soak into your skin and get to work, so apply it before heading outside. Wear it every day - whether you're playing tennis, lounging by the pool, or only sitting at an outdoor café - and reapply it every two hours if you're out all day. And don't forget the tips of your ears, the tops of your hands and feet, and other skin surfaces that are easily overlooked.
Fair-skinned people should be extra cautious - slather on high SPF, wear a hat with a wide brim, and stick to the shady side of the street.
Next Page > Avoiding the Burn
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