The Importance of Sunscreen Protection

Gone are the days when we basked in the sun or at least without first applying sunscreen. In our youth we tried various ways to darken our skin and lighten our hair with the power of the sun. Then came the days of the tanning beds. All the while we were damaging our skin and putting ourselves at risk for the big "C", cancer.

No longer do we sunbath with oils or butter and our eyes have been opened to the effects of tanning beds. Skin cancer kills more than 10,000 people per year, according to an article published by the FDA. There are three main types of skin cancer. Melanoma is not the most common but is the deadliest. It is responsible for two thirds of those 10,000 deaths. The other two types are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. These are usually referred to as non-melanoma skin cancer. Basal Cell Carcinomas is the most common form of skin cancer, followed by squamous cell carcinomas. These two forms are very treatable but don't let that fool you as they also can become deadly. Skin cancer has been on the rise between 1980 and 1989 non-melanoma skin cancer raised 65% and melanoma skins cancer raised 21%. Skin cancer does not have an age requirement; it affects people of all ages.

The old saying, "Knowing is half the battle", could not be more true when speaking about preventing skin damage from the sun. Now that we know what damages the sun can cause we now need to implement practices to protect us from that damage. UV light is what we want to protect ourselves from and there is now an entire market aimed at doing just that. From sunscreen to protective clothing there are numerous ways to protect us and loved one's each day. Associated Content Producer, Brittany Lane, recently published an article titled, "How to Make the Most of Your Sunscreen". In this article Brittany covers such topics as how to choose the proper sunscreen and when to apply that sunscreen for optimal effect. Sunscreen must be applied at least 15 minutes before the sun ever touches your skin and then reapplied according to the instruction on the bottle.

There are some really great sunscreen's available on the market now. I prefer Coppertone's Water Babies. I trust this product and know that it is providing the great sun protection to myself as well as my children. Sunscreen has come along way since we were kids. They now come in spray bottles that are easy to apply and stay sand free. No matter how long you plan to be in the sun start each day with at least a minimal sunscreen to protect your delicate skin.

If by chance you are caught out without your sun screen and do become burned then look to Associated Content producer Kelly Spies article on "Summer Sunburn Remedies". She has some neat ideas to help soothe a sunburn. There is no cure for a sunburn, it take time to allow the skin to heal once it has been damaged. The key is to prevent the damage from ever happening. Even if you are a person that tans easily or has naturally dark skin, it is still important to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the aging effects of the sun as well as skin cancers.

Remember to take care of your body, as it is the only body you will ever have. Apply and reapply sunscreen often in the summer months to protect against harmful UV rays. It is also important to apply at least a daily moisturizer daily with a minimal UV ray protectant in it even on days when there is no sun as you can still get burned. And if you are still yearning for that luscious tan look try using a sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanner have come along way. No longer do they leave you looking like an orange. There are some really great products that you use as a daily moisturizer. Some even contain an SPF to protect against the sun. If you are looking for a good sunless tanner than check out Summer Bank's "Product Review: Coppertone's Gradual Tan Sunless Tanning Lotion".

Remember this summer season to apply sunscreen and reapply often to prevent sunburns. Prevent sunscreen, wrinkles and age spots before they ever begin by protecting your skin from dangerous UV rays.

(Carolyn J. Strange, "Thwarting Skin Cancer with Sun Sense" http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/695_skincanc.html)