With midterms and papers completed, your friends join you in the packed Subaru for the 24 hour mad dash south. Leaving the grey days of Michigan far behind, you hit the beach for a well-deserved week of relaxation in the sun.

Biology 151 is only a vague memory as the warmth of the sun and the sounds of gently lapping surf lull you to sleep. But when hunger pains wake you for supper, you realize that your skin is FRIED .

And the next 6 days are spent hiding in the scant shade, applying layer after layer of aloe-vera lotion.

This is NOT the Spring Break trip you had planned!

Sun Power

Sunshine is a powerful gift. It lifts the mood of light-deprived northerners. It is actively involved in Vitamin D metabolism. It is essential to plant life. However, it has a dark side as well. Sun damage is key factor in the premature aging of the skin and in the development of many skin cancers. And sun damage appears to be increasing as the protective ozone layer is depleted. Cancer treatments are improving, but the most effective approach is still prevention.

Minimizing the amount of UV rays absorbed by your skin is one of the most effective ways of preventing skin cancer. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are responsible for early leathering and wrinkling of the skin. UVA exposure is also a major risk factor for melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Tanning beds use primarily UVA rays. UVB rays are shorter and cause visible sunburns. UVB rays are the main cause of both basal-cell and squamous-cell skin cancers. They are also a major factor in the development of melanomas.

Sun damage is cumulative. It builds up during your lifetime and cannot be reversed. So it is extremely important to protect your skin when you are young because 80% of skin-damaging UV exposure may occur before age 20.

Sun Protection

• Minimize sun exposure between 10am and 2 pm when UV rays are the strongest.
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with protection against both UVA and UVB light.
• Wear sunglasses with UV-blocking filters because the eye is the second most common place for developing melanoma.
• Wear a hat that covers the ears, neck, and face.
• Wearing a T-shirt to swim provides minimal protection with a SPF of only 2-3. So wear sunscreen under a T-shirt as well.

• The SPF is theoretically a multiplication factor. For example, an SPF of 10 indicates that you could remain exposed to sunlight 10 times longer with the sunscreen and obtain the same degree of redness.
• Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 for everyday use. Use a higher SPF such as 30 or 45 if you have sensitive skin or will be out in the sun for an extended period of time.
• Apply the sunscreen 20 minutes before heading outside and reapply after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
• Sunscreen should be reapplied liberally and often because all types of sunscreen will eventually wash off with enough sweat and water.
• Even if you use the most ideal sunscreen correctly, some UV rays may still penetrate the skin, making it important to avoid midday sunlight.

• Cool wet cloths or compresses may help relieve the pain.
• Aloe based creams may relieve some of the sting.
• Ibuprofen may be helpful for severe burns.
• If a burn is severe with blistering or if you have a fever of 102 degrees, you should see your health care provider.