Sunlight with its ultraviolet A and B rays is the enemy of the largest organ in our bodies, namely the skin. Sunburn and tanning causes aging, thinning and atrophy of the skin as well as skin cancer, the most threatening of which is malignant melanoma that claims over 20,000 lives yearly in the U.S.

The skin is a protective coat to the harmful rays of the sun and this natural protection directly relates to the thickness of the epidermis and melanin pigment within the skin. But even with a dark complexion and thick skin that goes along with youth, the sun is damaging to the skin and the best protection is to cover up. Wear a hat preferably with a broad brim and flaps that extend down over the neck. Wear a shirt and shorts that cover the thighs and stay under cover.

There are an almost infinite number of different sunscreens that are generally rated according to their SPF rating or Sun Protective Factor. If you must stay in the direct sunlight, especially during the high intensity time of sunlight between 10AM and 4 PM, use sunscreen with a SPF 30 or higher. Most dermatologists recommend liberally applying sunscreen 15-30 minutes before exposure and then reapplying it at a time that divides the SPF by 2. Stated differently, if the SPF is 30, apply it again in 15 minutes. Further applications are only necessary if you go swimming, sweat heavily and are involved in activities that cause the sunscreen to be rubbed off.

Senior citizens who were raised prior to the advent of sunscreen other than thick zinc oxide paste, fully appreciate this good advice as we make our appointments with the dermatologists to have our superficial basal cell cancers and senile keratosis removed and our skin inspected for the more serious squamous cell cancers and malignant melanomas.