Too Pale, Too Tan ? Summer Skin Solutions

Once upon a time it was hard to beat the beautiful, golden glow of a natural sun-kissed tan. Unfortunately, the repercussions of soaking up the sun to get that radiant olive-brown tone are far from healthy. Instead of enjoying a lazy hazy day of summer relaxing in the sun watching our skin darken while sipping on pina colodas, we are now stressing out, watching the clock more intently than ever.

Exposure to the sun is directly responsible for the leathery look of prematurely aged skin, wrinkles and skin cancer all of which are irreversible. While spending hours frying in the sun may not be the way to go, it would still be nice to capture that beaming summertime glow, have fun in the sun and be kind to our skin all at the same time.

Is there a way to get our sunny season back and save our skin, too? We got the sizzling scoop on what it takes to take back our beautiful bronze summers.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there is no known safe way to tan. The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 310,000 cases of skin cancer develop each year, killing up to 7,500 people each year in this country.

The three most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, according to the AAD. All three types of skin cancer are on the rise. The most serious form, malignant melanoma, is a potentially fatal and early detection through screening is strongly encouraged.

According to The Melanoma Research Foundation, every hour of every day of the year an American dies of malignant melanoma.

Many will argue that summer fun is just not what it used to be. It’s true, the ozone layer has thinned out in certain areas because of emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals widely used. But that doesn’t mean its harmful properties were not still present years ago.

Skin aging and cancer are delayed effects that don't usually show up for many years after the exposure. People, who spent large amounts of time in the sun 50 years ago, are now facing the damaging consequences. Unfortunately, since the damage is not immediately visible, many young people are often unaware or disregard the harmful effects of tanning. Researchers suspect that due to the increased amount of sunbathing in the last 25 years, there has been a two-fold increase in skin malignancies.

Don’t put away your tennis rackets, bathing suits and volleyball’s just yet. The good news is a little sunlight is, in fact, needed for wellness. A small amount of sun exposure is needed for the body to manufacture vitamin D. Vitamin D causes the intestine to absorb more calcium, which helps to maintain the levels of calcium in our body for building bone and other functions.

Since the body can’t create vitamin D on its own, a small amount of sun exposure is needed. However, it may take as little as a couple hours per week in the sun, which is far less time than it takes to get a suntan. Sitting in the hot sun for hours is not the way to go but getting outside and spending few minutes of quality time in nature each day is precisely what your body and skin may need. Not only will it help you feel better throughout the day but it can, also, have a profound effect on your overall health.

There are ways to protect your skin both inside and out.

1. Get your Vitamins:
“Vitamins and minerals can help the skin retain its youthful glow. For example, selenium, a mineral, can help protect the skin from the sun. Scientists believe that it can help lower the risk of skin cancer. In addition vitamin C rich foods help to reduce the damage to skin caused by ‘free radicals.’”

2. Drink to Moisture:
"Caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, soda are also diuretics, meaning they promote fluid excretion. It is important to consume water to keep your skin fresh and not dry."

3. Eat up to Heal Up:
"In general, foods rich in protein and zinc help the body heal and rebuild cells in your body."

4. Savor Your Skin:
"You want to include nutritious and healthy foods loaded with such things as antioxidants, vitamins and protein to help protect the skin. Such examples include, fruits and vegetables, vegetables oils, nuts and omega 3 fatty acids foods such as salmon are good examples."

Here are the nine ways, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincare.org), you can have fun in the sun and stay safe outdoors.

1. Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
2. Do not burn.
3. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
4. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
5. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
6. Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
7. Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
8. See your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.
9. Avoid tanning and UV tanning salons.