The sun mans oldest foe.

Giver of life to the very earth we stand on, yet it can also give you skin cancer, but how you may ask? And how can avoid one avoid such a fate? Well fret not, we spoke with Dr. Jennifer Beeker, Certified dermatologist and National Chair of the CDA Sun Awareness Working Group.

First and foremost the reason why skin is affected by the sun is because of UV rays (Ultra Violet Radiation). UV rays are invisible rays emitted from the sun that gives off radiation, which like all forms of radiation can cause damage to cells and DNA over time. This can alter cells and DNA to become less and less capable of repairing themselves overtime. This can cause symptoms such as photoaging, dryness, brown spots and of course, skin cancer.

Damage from the sun can range from acute to chronic in severity, lighter more common symptoms like a light sunburn are easily treated and tend to go away fairly quickly. More severe symptoms such as blistering, fever, profuse sweating or the lack of sweat, confusion could all lead to sunstroke. If this happens the only real course of action one has is to get cold as soon as possible and possibly an anti-burn ointment. That said the damage is still done and other types of skin cancers can emerge from being burnt so its best to just avoid altogether.

If you wanna steer clear of all this and other threats from the sun such as heatstroke, sunburns or heat rash, getting the sunscreen for your skin is the next step. Using a sunscreen of 30 SPF will typically do the trick for most people. However, those with fair skin, like people with red hair or blonde hair and blue eyes, may need to use an SPF of 50 or more. When it comes to tanning, Dr. Beeker says a lot of people to tend to forget it's still damaging to one's skin and that the reason why the skin darkens is to protect itself which is a sign of damaged cells.

When it comes to keeping your children from being charred into black rock-like substance, most sunscreen will work for all ages. Those who are uncomfortable with chemical-based sunscreen can opt to use a mineral-based one. Children above the age of two can wear most the same sunscreen as adults can, but smaller children under six months should be protected with proper clothing and kept in shade as much as possible 

We may not plan our day around the sun but Dr. Beeker says that you probably should start. Treating proper skincare like brushing your teeth and taking care of it daily can help you avoid all the damage that the sun can dish out. Avoiding extreme heat and staying hydrated are fairly common knowledge ways of beating the heat, but other methods like planning when to cut your grass before the sun hits it high of the day is something more should consider. Covering up in light fabrics, sticking to the shade or even just throwing up an umbrella are just a few deterrents you can apply daily to avoid sun damage. Well, some may think absorbing as much as you can is part of an active and healthy lifestyle, make sure you are absorbing just the right amount as most people seem to forget how much sun they already get in there everyday lives.

In closing, protect your skin so next time you see your dermatologist all they’ll have for you is good news, take care out there and beware the sun.