Be Smart in the Sun

My friend mentioned that she was going to sun bathe the other day. Do people still do that? Maybe I am just getting older, but I stopped tanning years ago. Don't get me wrong though, I still like to get my vitamin D on. My nickname in my late teens and early twenties was red lobster because I worshipped the sun and spent some time at the tanning salon. During those long, cold winter months I would love to get into a nice warm tanning bed. I have become more cautious of the sun's harmful rays since then, though.

80% of the signs of aging are a direct result of sun exposure in our teens. Sun bathing can make us feel good and look good in the short term. Cumulative effects put us at high risk of cellular damage, early wrinkling, age spots, and skin cancer - melanoma. A sun tan is the body's way of blocking UV rays to prevent further skin damage. That golden tone may look attractive but it is actually the result of injury to the top layer of skin - epidermis.

A sunburn is a 1st degree burn that usually shows up on the skin within a few hours of sun exposure (after a shower). It can last a few days and Advil or aloe can be used as pain relievers. 2nd degree burns damage the deeper layers of skin and nerve endings. This kind of burn is much more painful and takes more time to heal. It will result in swelling, redness, and blistering - don't break the blisters because they are there to protect the skin and provide moisture.

Over time, UV rays damage fibers in the skin called elastin - causing the skin to sag and stretch. Sun may also cause uneven pigmentation and redness from permanent stretching of blood vessels. Freckles are OK - they are usually more prominent after you go in the sun but they are not cancerous. Pregnancy and too much sun with or without protection can result in melasma, which looks like discoloration. Age spots can be treated with bleaching creams, acid peels, and light based treatments. Practice healthy sun protection habits with hats, sunscreen, sun glasses and limiting your time outdoors between the hours of 10 am - 4 pm.

Lyla Feldman writes about health and fitness. Some of her favorite passions include writing about http://www.skinnygazelle.com energy drinks and http://www.liporidpm.com natural sleep aids

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