5 Smart Ways to Protect Your Skin From the Sun

As the days grow longer and the sun's rays get stronger, it's time to think about keeping your skin protected and sun damage-free.  Here are five simple ways to shield yourself from harm.

1. Cover Up

Wear sunglasses, hats and other protective clothing if you are going to be in the sun.  A hat with a wide brim that goes all the way around is best, and canvas beach cover-ups are also a good choice.  Make sure the sunglasses you decide to wear block both UVA and UVB rays.

2. Wear Sunscreen

By now, you would think that most people know that this is extremely important, but you might be surprised how many sun lovers still believe you don't need sunscreen if your skin tans, or if you live in a cold climate, or if you only spend a short amount of time outdoors.  The fact is, sun damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes, even if it is cloudy.  Wear at least an SPF 15 sunblock and don't forget to reapply every two hours or after you have gone in water.

3. Avoid Sun During the 10-2 PM Hours

This is when the sun is strongest, so if at all possible, you'll want to avoid being outside and in the sun during these hours.  If you need to be, be sure to wear protective clothing and sunscreen of course!  A little known fact: UV rays are the greatest in North America during late spring and early summer.

4. Seek Shade

Again, if you must be out in the sun--especially during peak hours--look for a shaded spot.  If you are going to be at the beach or by the pool, a large umbrella is your best bet.  No umbrella?  A large, leafy tree can help provide shelter from the sun.

5. Avoid Tanning Beds

Although artificial light has been well-documented as causing skin damage and skin cancer, tanning salons remain in business.  This type of light is often worse for the skin than regular sunlight.  It is never a good idea to use them, no matter how in vogue it may seem to have a golden bronze glow.

The majority of the 1 million+ cases of non-melanoma skin cancer that are diagnosed in the U.S. every year are sun-related.  Just as frightening, there are over 11,000 deaths from skin cancer each year, so be smart--stay out of the sun as much as possible.  If you do spend time in the sun, be sure to protect yourself--so you can avoid ending up as just another statistic.

Skin Rashes 101: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

The word "rash" is a general term that refers to an outbreak of bumps on the skin--whether localized or widespread.

One common category of rashes are scaly patches of skin that have not been caused by infection, such as eczema.  The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis, which is a hereditary problem often beginning in childhood. Atopic dermatitis comes and goes and is often worse in the winter.  When an individual has atopic dermatitis, their skin becomes inflamed and itchy. It also may be cracked and red or begin weeping.

Prescription steroids such as cortisone creams are often used to treat eczema, with milder (or over-the-counter) ones recommended for areas such as the groin or face. For the arms and legs, more potent cortisone creams are usually prescribed.

Another type of rash that is not caused by an infection is contact dermatitis. This kind of rash occurs either from contact with material that causes an allergy on the skin or with something that irritates the skin. Poison ivy/poison oak are two examples of contact dermatitis caused by allergy. Unlike atopic dermatitis, in most cases, contact dermatitis affects only the part of the skin that was touched by the allergy-causing material.

Contact dermatitis treatment involves avoiding the allergen that is causing it, or minimizing whatever exposure is irritating the skin. Topical steroids, such as over-the-counter hydrocortisone as well as prescription-strength creams are common treatments.

The most common causes of infections that appear as rashes are bacterial infections or funguses.  Fungal infections often affect the folds of the skin and are usually very red with pustules.  There are many OTC antifungal creams that can be found at the drugstore, such as Mycelex or Lamisil. If those do not work, prescription creams like Econazole and Nizoral may be helpful.

Impetigo is the most common bacterial infection of the skin, and is more common in children and usually caused by strep or staph germs. As far as treatment, oral antibiotics or prescription-strength creams are usually required.

Other types of rashes include hives, heat rash, allergic drug rash and viral rash.

It is usually not a good idea to diagnose a rash yourself, as proper evaluation of a rash usually calls for a visit to a doctor or health-care professional.

Photo credit: uberculture

Spring Means Allergies! Here’s How to Deal

When the immune system has a reaction to substances such as pollen or pet dander, allergies can occur. Antibodies produced by the immune system are meant to protect the body from unwanted substances that could cause an infection or make you sick.

When you have allergies, your immune system produces antibodies that identify the allergen as being harmful, even if it is not. When this happens, histamines and other substances are released which can lead to the symptoms of allergies.

These symptoms most commonly involve the sinuses, the airways, the digestive system or skin. Depending on the person, the severity of symptoms can range from minor irritation to life-threatening anaphylaxis (a reaction involving the body's organ systems which can cause you to go into shock).

Here are some of the symptoms of some specific types of allergies:

Hay fever: itchy, watery or swollen eyes, itchy, runny nose, congestion

Atopic dermatitis (aka eczema): red skin, itchy skin, peeling skin

Food allergy: hives, mouth tingling, lip/tongue/throat swelling, anaphylaxis

Insect sting allergy: itching or hives, swelling, wheezing, cough, anaphylaxis

Drug allergy: hives, rash, wheezing, face swelling, itchy skin, anaphylaxis

Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies, but there are a several treatments available that can relieve the symptoms.

The first thing that should be done is once you have identified what it is that is causing the allergy, that trigger should be avoided.  There are also over-the-counter or prescription medications (eyedrops, oral medications, nasal sprays) that can be very helpful.  If your allergies are severe and these treatments do not help,  your doctor may recommend allergy shots.  They may also give you an epinephrine shot to carry with you at all times in case of a severe allergic reaction.  This can help alleviate symptoms until emergency treatment is received.

When should you see a doctor?  You may want to see one if you have symptoms you believe are being caused by an allergy, or you notice something in your environment that seems to trigger them. For a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, call 911 or your local emergency number or seek emergency medical help.