Sun screen

The sun sure is getting bright, isn't it? For the longest time I heard that the ozone layer way to blame for the summers getting hotter and the tans getting more severe. Since we are constantly damaging it with our chemicals and spray cans, it's sadly dwindling away, hence leaving us with less protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. But, now I'm hearing more and more stories about hurricane Nino and tropical air flow. This is the new reason winters are shorter and the sun seems hotter. Yeah, whatever! Either way, we certainly have to start protecting our bodies from the sun. Too much exposure to UV rays can obviously lead to cancer. Possibly even spontaneous combustion. Okay, scratch that second one. Anyway, get out the sun screen. You're going to need it this summer.

Are people slapping on SPF 35 sun screen or more of that 1985 Tropicana dark suntan oil? I have to wonder. Last summer my teenage daughter came to me for sun tan lotion.

I replied with "Don't you mean sun screen?" She made a weird face and said "I want to get tan, not more pale." Before I knew it, she was laying out back with baby oil all over her body and a bikini on. OUCH. She might as well climb in the microwave. Rubbing your body down with baby oil will certainly draw in the sun and make you sizzle. Not exactly the key to youth. But hey, if you want dried out, prematurely aged skin, then go for it. Toss in a few sun spots and skin cancer moles and you're set. In this day and age, sun-bathing simply makes no sense. We know for a fact now that it does plenty of harm and no good. It may provide you with a golden tan, but sun screen with keep you healthy and young looking. I guess it comes down to which one you crave more.

Try the safe tan. Hit up the local tanning salons that offer mist-on tanning. This is the new craze and it seems to be doing well. As for the sandy beaches, take along a decent sun screen. Preferably one with SPF 35. Above this is too much. After a few hours you'll need to reapply your sun screen either way. If you're not sure how it works, let me fill you in. Let's say you can stay in the sun for 15 minutes before you begin to burn. Sun block with SPF 35 will allow you to stay in the sun 35 times that long. However, it can wear and sweat off.