From MSN Health:
Most of us have been sunburned at some point and know how painful that can be—not to mention, the increase risk of skin cancer.
How to prevent it: Wear at least a 15 SPF sunscreen, advises the American Academy of Dermatology. (If you burn easily, or are putting it on a child, at least a 30 SPF is best.) It can take up to 30 minutes for sunscreen to start working since our skin has to fully absorb it, so apply well before you go out. Reapply it every two hours, and more often if you’re in the water. Don’t forget to put it on your lips. Avoid the sun at its hottest, cover up as much as you can and wear a wide-brimmed hat to be extra safe.
If it happens: Your skin has to heal on its own, but you can slather on aloe vera gel, Vitamin E cream or cool black-tea bags to soothe the pain. If it’s really bad, fill your bath tub with cool water and half a cup of baking soda, and slide in.
And for those who prefer not to use sunscreen.
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John,
I'm beginning to think there may be something to needing this sunscreen stuff. My 16-year-old niece just had some melanomas removed from her face and back. She is a brown-eyed blonde, and never gave over-exposure a thought until now.
But, having been a teenager about a hundred years ago, I still remember thinking how great I looked with a good tan, and no thought for how I would look as a spotty, wrinkled 50 something.
Posted by: Cathy | July 10, 2006 1:04 PM | Permalink to Comment