Tan, don’t burn!

How many baby boomers will honestly admit to spending many of their summer hours lying at the beach, by the pool, or even the backyard to work on your tan? In the early 70’s, my dedication to my tanning ceremony was as important as my part-time job at Stan’s Donut Shop -- and I made $2.50 per hour at Stan’s. (Minimum wage was $1.50 at the time) I did participate in many outdoor activities such as swimming, biking, hiking, and volleyball, but don’t you dare stand in my line of sun. No shade for this girl.

My ritual was to make sure I was somewhere in the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm for the prime tan time. Yes, I am well aware that those are the very hours that the experts now suggest you should stay out of the sun. These experts were obviously never professionals at tanning. The tanning paraphernalia included baby oil (no spf), aluminum foil, beach towel, small towel to create pillow, radio (tuned to my favorite AM radio station), and a kitchen timer to alert me as to the time to turn over. A true tanning aficionado bakes evenly on both sides.

My friends knew not to call during these hours, because the phone cord was not long enough to reach outside while I was tanning. Of course, my true friends were also in their backyard working on their tan lines, as well. After all, we were all vying for the coveted “best tan line” award. The prize was the knowledge that all of your hard work and diligent training for the perfect tan paid off. I humbly admit that I won the award most of the years. Thank God for my Italian heritage, easy tanning capabilities and lots of baby oil.

To this day I still love being outdoors in the sun, but I am much more mature and responsible with my skin. I can see the affects all of the sun exposure has had on my skin and I do understand the importance of protecting it, especially in younger children.

If you are not on a professional tanning team and do care about the long term affects of sun exposure, here are some facts and guidelines:

Shade is your best option for keeping your skin safe. Avoiding direct sunlight and opting for shade, such as trees or shelters, is one of the most effective ways of reducing sun exposure.

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

Unprotected or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Fair complexion
Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
Family history
Multiple or atypical moles
Severe sunburns as a child
What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth.

Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule.
The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark.
A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain.
What's the best way to protect my child in the sun?

Choose a sunscreen made for children.
For babies under 6 months of age, sunscreen may be used on small areas of the body such as the face and the backs of the hands if adequate clothing and shade are not available. For babies over 6 months of age, test the sunscreen on your baby's back for a reaction before applying it all over.
When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label.
Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
Use enough sunscreen and rub it in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially your baby's face, nose, ears, feet, and hands and even the backs of the knees.
Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding the eyelids.
Put sunsreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors.
Reapply the sunscreen frequently, especially if your baby is playing in the water.
It’s not too early, or too late, to protect your skin. Skin cancer is a serious issue that can be prevented. Now that the self-tanners don’t turn the palms of your hand orange, there are even safe ways to have that summer glow without the side effects from too much sun. Slop on the SPF and enjoy the sun, but please take care of your skin. You probably want to keep it around for a while.