Wear Sunscreen & Protect Your Skin!

Every day, millions of people are exposed to the sun. Those harmful UVA and UVB rays are absorbed into the skin and overtime may lead one to develop Melanoma, commonly known as skin cancer. This disease can take one's life without mercy in as little as a few months if undetected.

I have been educating others about protecting their skin for years due to the fact that my grandfather succumbed to the disease eight years ago this past February. It began as small mole on the back of his ear, then spread to the lymph nodes in his neck, and finally his liver. He battled Melanoma for a total of five years.

Since his death, my family and I have been taking charge of our health and protecting our skin. Not only does this entail frequent trips to the dermatologist, but I also suggest wearing protective clothing. While it is unrealistic to remove ourselves entirely from the sun, we absolutely should do what's necessary to limit our exposure as much as possible.

So- we've all heard about wearing big hats to protect our faces from the sun, but have you purchased any clothing from Coolibar lately? The clothes we wear in the sun, according to dermatologists, let in an extraordinary amount of UV rays. Yet, Coolibar has created a line of clothing and other accessories that dramatically reduce the amount of harmful rays that reach our skin.

According to their mission statement, Coolibar strives "to develop superior sun protective products that allow people to enjoy life in the sun". Their products are UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 50+ and provide 98% UV protection. My favorite product is the Sarasota ZnO Beach Cover Up which retails for $68.00. check out their website at www.coolibar.com for more information!

When it comes to sunscreen- there's a real difference between the cheap brands and those that are more expensive. My dermatologist has always recommended the brand BullFrog. It's thick and takes a few minutes to rub in, but it's sure to provide excellent protection from the sun. Other top brands include Badger, Blue Lizard, Total Block & Cotz, etc.

Before you head out for spring break or summer vacation this year, please think about covering up in the sun! Sunscreen is not enough- invest in some protective clothing, or at the very least- a hat. Also, make sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours using a product with an SPF of 30+ or higher.

While a tan looks nice, I'm sure the men and women battling skin cancer today would trade every tan they've ever had to be cancer free. Let's look beyond today's tan and protect ourselves, and most importantly- our future.