Get Your Skin Ready For The Summer

Long gone are the days when we broke out the baby oil at the first sign of summer vacation. Now that the long-term damage caused by the sun has become well-known, most sun worshippers try to use some kind of sunblock. But what's the best kind? How often do you need to apply it? What are the rules when you stay in the sun?

There's no way to tan without damaging your skin "to one degree or another," says Dr. Mallika Marshall, a frequent Early Show guest. "Whether you spend a week on the beach turning yourself into a lobster or spend years steadily bronzing in the sun or in tanning booths, you are causing damage that is difficult to undo and could well result in cancer."

And even if you are conscientious about using a sunblock, you could still suffer skin damage if you're not using it correctly. "Apply it to all exposed areas of the skin, including the scalp," Marshall says. "And use goo-gobs of it ... the more the better. Don't forget to reapply it every two hours — sooner if you've been sweating or swimming."

What are the best things to wear if you're going to have prolonged exposure to the sun — say, during a round of golf or a family picnic? Cancer-causing UV rays "do go through fabric," Marshall says. "And contrary to what most people believe, white is not the best color to wear for sun protection. In fact, the darker the color of the fabric, the more UV it absorbs."

Marshall says it's also important to consider the type of fabric you wear. "We think of linen as the ideal summer fabric: it's light and cool, because it's loosely woven," says Marshall. "But that's exactly what makes linen the worst for UV protection. A lot of the harmful rays zip right through."

One thing to consider are some of the new types of UV-resistant fabrics that have recently come onto the market — some block up to 98 percent of UV radiation.

If you've already damaged your skin, there's little you can do to repair it. Some products with Retin-A can help restore damaged skin, and chemical peels and laser therapy can exfoliate skin. Going forward, Marshall says, there are two important steps you can take: