Hooray Hyatt

Some hotels are now offering sunscreen service through their concierge. So, in addition to your poolside drink, you can also get some SPF.

Skin Care for a Sunburn

Sunburn (erythema) is your skin's natural defense against overexposure to ultraviolet rays.

Spending a day in the sun is an idea of a great time for many folks. But just one sunburn can severely damage your skin, and it can also increase your risk of skin cancer.

The best thing to do, obviously, is to take care and prevent a sunburn in the first place. Many cosmetics now have sunscreen built in, so you can protect your skin just by putting on your makeup. Avoid the sun between the hours of 10am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are strongest. Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses with UV protection that wrap around to protect the skin at the corner of your eyes, long-sleeved light-colored clothing and sunscreen. Reapply the sunscreen to your skin every couple of hours, and don't forget areas like the tops of your feet and your ears. Beware of tanning beds, which can also burn your skin.

If your skin does end up getting sunburned, to care for sunburned skin you can try the following home remedies:

Take a cool shower or bath, and/or apply cool compresses to the affected skin for 15 minutes a few times a day. Gently pat your skin dry with a towel - do not rub.

Cut the leaves of an aloe vera plant lengthwise, remove the gel inside, and smear the gel on your sunburned skin.

Soak a small piece of cloth or some cotton gauze in whole milk and apply carefully to the burned skin. Leave it on for about 15 - 20 minutes, and then rinse the skin with cool water.

Slice open a cucumber and wipe it directly onto your skin.

The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and care. Severe burns to the skin can require immediate medical attention. If you get a fever, nausea, dizziness, become sensitive to light or experience severe pain, see a doctor at once. Doctors can prescribe a corticosteroid cream that soothes the skin and can speed up the healing process. A family member of mine was prescribed "silver cream" for his skin after a burn injury. It's expensive, but it's worth it. Your skin is worth it. Skin is the body's largest organ, after all.

Katrina Price is an authority in skin care and cosmetics. Her website, www.skincareteacher.com contains great information on how to care for your skin.

Just a friendly reminder to PLEASE remember your sunscreen as well as your wrap-around sunglasses when you head out for the big Fourth of July festivities next weekend. Stay sun safe and protect your skin!

D.C. is the Sun Smartest! I'm proud to live in the DC Metro area and now I have another reason to be proud. I just heard that residents in the DC region scored the highest in a Sun Smarts quiz, correctly answering questions such as
Is it good to get a base tan?
Are tanning beds safe to use?
DC was ranked 1st in Sun Smarts - even over sun-drenched cities like Tampa and Los Angeles!
Remember, May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Go and soak up some knowledge about how to stay safe in the sun.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Take the time to learn the dangers of sun exposure. You owe it to your health and your self. Make sure you stay sun safe this summer. Sunscreen, long sleeves and limit your time in the sun. See my earlier post in this blog about wrap-around sunglasses. Those will protect your eyes from the sun as well as help prevent fine lines from forming around the eyes.

Sunscreen or Sunshield?

I think the term Sunshield is better, because the lotions will help shield you from the damaging effects of the sun.
Now that spring time is here with warmer weather and we're all getting back into the great outdoors, please remember to apply at least an SPF 15 to keep from getting sunburns and skin cancer.