Avoid the burn this summer

Seeing as we just passed the mark of the first official day of summer, I am holding it to the sun to make a regular appearance every single day for the next 3 solid months.

We've talked and made an agreement. Sun comes out, so do I, and I won't complain that it is too hot, or too bright, as I've been waiting for this for a while (three seasons to be exact).

With that being stated, we do need to cover a topic that seems to be rather one sided in the last 30 to 40 years or so.

You hear it everywhere, from everyone, all the time. Avoid the sun, the sun is damaging, the sun causes cancer, etc etc.

It sort of creates this fear of the sun. The one thing that we yearn for every winter. The one thing we dish out our hard earned cash for and travel to foreign countries to relish in. The sun has been given a terrible rap and I think it's important to dole out the virtues of the sun and how great it really is for us.

Vitamin D is essential to our everyday health and well being. The vitamin D society cites that '... research indicates vitamin D deficiency plays a role in causing 17 varieties of cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects and periodontal disease.' .
Now that is quite a list of ailments. What this essentially means is that vitamin D should not be overlooked by anyone who wants to move towards a healthier lifestyle and improve their over all well-being.

In reality, the sun is good for us, and we simply need to take precautions to ensuring we don't burn when we head outside. It is the burn that is essentially unhealthy for us, not the sun.

I think a little sunscreen 101 would be a great way to lay the foundation for gearing up to avoid a burn this summer:

- SPF stands for 'Sun Protection Factor' and the number in front of it corresponds to the amount of time you can stay out in the sun without burning.
- Usually, an SPF 15 rated sunscreen will give your about an hour of protection before you should reapply sunscreen.
- The SPF # only relates to UVB protection. UVB rays are more potent, quicker to produce sunburn, and have been linked to skin cancer.
- UVA rays are associated with aging of the skin, and though milder, are still to be protected against.

Important tips for wearing sunscreen to ensure it is effective:

- Reapply often. Sweat, clothing and general evaporation of the product can reduce it's effectiveness and as such, reapplying the
- See if the product is a broad spectrum blocker, meaning it blocks both UVB and UVA rays.
- The sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so it possibly, try to stick to shady areas, or simply keep in mind that lower or higher SPF, just reapply!

A few great options out there I can recommend:

Coppertone NutraShield with Dual defenseoffers a great oil-free option and is recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association. Offered in both a 30 and a 60 SPF.

For the organic and vegan option, there is Aubrey Organics Natural Sun SPF 25 Green Tea Protective Sunscreen. Not only a great, more natural variation for sun protection, but it also has antioxidants to prevent free radical damage.

It's important not to leave out the lips, too, and Mary Kay® Lip Protector Sunscreen SPF 15 - leaves the lips soft and is also waterproof.

It's key to keep in mind that we need to practice sunburn prevention - not utter aversion.