Health Tip Of The Week - Protecting Your Skin From The Sun

We all know that we should be wearing sunscreen, but what other steps can we take to protect ourselves from sun damage, which can lead to signs of aging or even skin cancer.

-  Cover Up - The sun is the strongest between 10 and 4.  During these times, cover as much of your body as possible or stay indoors.

-  Make sure you wear waterproof sunscreen when swimming or exercising outside.

-  Get regular skin checks.  Early detection is key!

-  Apply sunscreen 20 - 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every 2 - 3 hours.

-  Don't let the weather fool you!  Just because it is cloudy or even snowing outside, it doesn't mean that you can't get sunburned.  I learned that the hard way as a teenager.  I was out for only a few hours on a cloudy day, without sunscreen, and got a very bad burn.

-  Wear a wide brimmed hat to provide extra protection from the sun.  Plus, it also a chic fashion statement!

-  Don't forget your lips!  They can get sunburned just like any other part of your body.  For me, I will get fever blisters very quickly if I don't have something on my lips.

-  Don't forget to protect your hair!  The sun can damage our hair also.  There are sun protectant sprays to help fight the affects of the sun.  Hats are also a great option.

-  There are also certain medications and supplements, that can make us more susceptible to sun damage.  Check with your doctor to see if your medications put you at a higher risk.