I have learned not to say anything negative out of my mouth when people say how much they love the winter – the cloudy, windy, rainy days. While I do enjoy a crisp fall evening with a fire going in the fireplace every now and then, truth be told – summer is my absolute favorite season of the year.
Perhaps childhood memories of great family vacations, slip n slide, neighborhood hide and seek games, picnics at the park, running through the sprinklers, “camping” in the backyard, little league baseball and, of course, chasing the ice cream man -- create an anticipation of a super season of fun in the sun. Whatever the reason, I continue to enjoy summer and do as much as I can outdoors.
This time of year seems to bring out the adventurous, outdoorsy, nature-loving go-getter in many of us. Many take up walking, hiking, cycling, and different summer sports. We seem to wake up from our long winter naps and have this surge of energy becoming weekend warriors. From gardening to water-skiing, we are outdoors enjoying the warmth of the sun. An added benefit to the warmth of the sun -- don't forget all the Vitamin D you obtain from the suns rays. I feel healthier already!

Don't Forget
Another thing I don't want you to forget is that sunscreen. It doesn't matter if you burn, don't burn, tan, don't tan - whatever. There is no excuse for not wearing sunscreen. Take care of the skin God gave you. Many who grew up as young sun-lovers in the days of, "Tan, don't burn, get a Coppertone tan," are experiencing the repercussions of no sunscreen: wrinkles, leather skin, and even skin cancer. Who else was in the die-hard tanning club of the 70’s -- baby oil and aluminum foil?
Even if you don't spend much time in the direct sun, and work in an office, you get about 18 hours of sun exposure during a work week. UVA rays penetrate glass and don't vary much in intensity throughout the year. Driving to and from work, running errands, and walking the dog add to those hours of sun exposure.
If you take antibiotics, antidepressants, birth-control pills, or Retin-A, your skin becomes photosensitive. Some reactions may include swelling, hives and rashes, as well as sunburn and blister. Most drugs carry warnings, so read the labels. Even covering up with a t-shirt is not enough without using sunscreen before you go into the sun.

Even Me?
Yes, even you need sunscreen. When you are going into the direct sun for long periods of time, you should apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours, after swimming or perspiring heavily.
One in five Americans develop skin cancer by age 65. It is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Most are basal cell carcinomas, which are highly curable, but about 44,000 cases of the more deadly malignant melanoma are diagnosed each year. If you have an itchy or scaly patch that isn't healing, or a mole with irregular edges, size or color change, see your dermatologist right away.
Fair hair and light eyes make you a prime sun target and smoking may increase the harm done by sun damage. (Sun damage may also increase the harm done by smoking). If you suffered serious sunburn as a child, your risk of skin cancer is also raised.
80 percent of skin cancers occur on the head, so wear a hat!

Protect Those Little Ones
The average person gets 80 percent of sun exposure as a child and each childhood sunburn increases the risk of developing malignant melanoma. Keep those little ones over six months old covered in sunscreen. Check with your pediatrician to see what precautions need to be taken for babies under six months of age. Be sure to include ears, backs of legs and feet along with the rest of the body.
Patricia Treadwell, a pediatric dermatologist, says, “It’s better to keep your baby out of the sun altogether if you can. When that’s not possible, I recommend choosing a “physical” or “chemical free” sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These will protect as soon as you put them on, rather than chemical products needing 30 minutes to absorb.”
Reapply frequently. Dermatologists recommend 15-30 SPF with an effective UVA block. No need to buy “children’s” sunscreen. They are really no different than adult sunscreen, yet they can be quite a bit more expensive.
There is tremendous progress in the area of sun protection with laundry detergent coming out containing special SPF causing your clothes to absorb rays without effecting color and there are already clothing sprays designed to make fabric absorb radiation. Be aware. Be smart. Take the time to protect your skin and your family's skin. A few minutes of prevention can prevent an uncomfortable summer of sunburn and allergic reactions as well prevent a future of skin cancer. Keep on enjoying the sun armed (and legged) with sunscreen. Now you can continue to have "Hot Fun in the Summer-time", without damaging your skin.