Skin and the Sun

It's like love and marriage the two seem to be inseparable, but they're not always compatible, Should I merely add my voice to the chorus of "Stay out of the sun! It's only bad for you! Stay inside and close the shutters!"? That's unreal fistic it's hard to convince many people that the sun is poisonous for them since they look so fabulous in a tan! How many eighteen year olds tanned and brown and gorgeous eighteen year olds will believe me when I tell them that in ten or fifteen years, their skin will look like leather, their eyes will be wrinkled, and their faces will look ten years older than their age. So for those of us who will not stay indoors forever (and I am in this group, believe me), here are some things we should all know.

It is a fact that damage from the sun is cumulative. It doesn't happen in one day, nor does it happen in a week. But it will happen, because once you expose your skin to the sun over an extended period of time, the damage is irreversible. Those wrinkles will come no doubt about it.

Taking careful care of your skin throughout your life nourishing it, moisturizing it, keeping it looking as beautiful as it can is all for nought if you go out into the sun and dry it out making it flaky, spotted, wrinkled and perhaps cancerous. The price of a tan can be very high.

However, since it is unrealistic to expect us all to stay out of the sun forever, the best compromise may be the following:

Go out into the sun, but do so before 10 A.m. and after 2 P.m., when the sun's rays are least dangerous.

* Wear a strong protective sun block, at least number 8 and preferably number 15 (there are even moisturizing sun blocks on the market); remember that wearing a sunscreen does not mean you won't get a tan it simply means that you will block out the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Wearing a sun block means you will get no tan.

*Cover your head, and wear sunglasses at all times. Don't pick a pair just because they are fashionable and match your bathing suit. Pick out ones that are both attractive and have good lenses that will keep out the sun. (My motto is: Instead of getting six cheap pairs in one year buy one of quality with optical lenses.)

*Another hint is to build up your suntan slowly, without burning the skin: The melanin in your body, which is a natural sunscreen, accumulates as you slowly tan.

* Perspiration is also a type of natural sunscreen so when you play tennis in the sun, don't wipe off that sweat instead, pat it down. But remember, when you come inside, cleanse your skin and moisturize it well. And don't use your sweat as an excuse not to wear a sun block. You need it to keep out those ultraviolet rays.

Please understand that I don't advocate giving up being outdoors, canceling all participation in sports, or banishing beach vacations, especially since moving around in the sun means you are not getting the amount of direct rays you would if you were lying on the sand getting fried. But I urge you to at least protect yourself from the sun. Get that sun block and use it. Also, be sure to drink a lot when you are in the sun water, juices, and iced tea anything to replenish your supply of water. But don't drink too much alcohol, because when combined with the heat, alcohol drains you of energy and makes your heart beat faster. My rule is for every pina colada, I drink two glasses of water.

Another no: Never put baby oil or any other oil on your skin and then go out. into the sun. Take a look at a steak before you put oil on it for frying. Now fry it see what happens to it? It shrivels up, all wrinkled and greasy. Would you want to kiss a fried steak? Think about it.

One added thought. If you have been a sun worshiper and you are now reading these ominous words irreversible, damaging, wrinkles, dehydration you've probably decided that it's too late to change. Besides, you look so great in a tan, and so awful without one pale, face dry and lined you may as well keep on getting tanned. This is a vicious cycle. Do yourself a favor get out of it now. It's self defeating. Stop the cycle, look directly into the mirror and take stock. Start caring for your skin immediately. Cleanse it, moisturize it eat properly to plump out those lines. Treat the wrinkles to minimize the lines. Return to the sun, but protect your skin. Better now than never.