Depending upon where you live, spring might be fully sprung on you.  If you live in Northern California, like I do, summer is full-on.  It’s been triple digits for days now!  Yeah, in twenty-four hours we go from having the heater on to the AC.  Yowsa.

If summer isn’t yet upon you, why not start thinking about sunburn prevention? There are options beyond lathering on the sunscreen.

First of all, what is sunburn?

Simply put, sunburn is damaged skin.  If you’ve ever exfoliated, you know that the outer layer of skin is dead cells, the living cells being right underneath.   When those live cells have been overexposed to sunlight, the damage is called sunburn.

What are the risk factors?

Well, not to state the obvious, but spending a lot of time in the sun without protection is the number one no-no.

And yes, if you are fair skinned, you need to be extra vigilant.  However, if you are dark skinned, you are still at risk.  My research shows that being dark skinned is equivalent to SPF 8.  It’s helpful, but not going to save you from sunburn.

Also, if you are taking any medications, particularly some antibiotics and oral contraceptives, keep in mind that they might increase your susceptibility to the sun.

For the parents out there…children are also at greater risk for sunburn…it’s that gorgeous new skin!

So, should you put sunscreen or sunblock on my newborn? 

Babies under six months should be kept out of the sun as much as possible.  Sunscreen isn’t something you want your little one to ingest, and it’s hard to keep that goopy liquid from making its way into a little one’s mouth.

The difference between Sunscreen and Sunblock?

There are two types of products that protect the skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation: chemical products that essentially absorb the harmful rays, and physical products hat reflect them.  Sunscreen is the former, sunblock the latter.  Sunscreen used to block for only UVB, but now many block for both.  Sunblocks, stop UVA and UVB from getting to your skin.

Okay, so what’s the deal with UVA and UVB?

Ah, yes, Ultraviolet A vs. Ultraviolet B.  The two damaging siblings.  UVA is blamed for aging, while UVB is the culprit for tanning…and also burning.  UVB is strongest in summer months, but UVA is constant regardless of the season.  UVA can also go through glass and fabric.  Thanks a lot, UVA!

What’s an SPF?

SPF= Sun protection factor, and it only refers to UVB.   The number associated with a particular SPF is the amount of minutes the particular sunscreen (or block) will delay a sunburn.  The SPF 20 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 20 times longer.

But remember, that’s UVB only.

What if my child or I still get a sunburn, despite our best efforts?

Years ago, I was in a beach in Southern California with a friend of mine who had a toddler.  She slathered her daughter in sunscreen, and then herself in tanning oil.  After a long day in the sun, she came home with a sunburn…minus the spots where her daughter had had touched her with her SPF laden hands.

Sunburn happens.  When you are facing it, here are a few pearls to help you deal with it:

• Ice:  Believe it or not, this will help if the spot is small enough to cover in ice.
• Similarly, a cool bath or shower can be immensely helpful.
• Anti-inflammatory: A sunburn is like any other inflammation in that it will be helped by meds that reduce inflammation
• Pure Aloe Vera:  In my (anecdotal experience), I can swear by it. I’m not the only one…it is widely recommended to help treat sunburn.
• While I can’t vouch for them, I’ve heard good things about over the counter spray treatments for sunburn. Let me know if you’ve tried them, and what your experience was!

So whether spring has sprung or you’re still waiting, it’s never too late to think about protecting your skin!