Sun’s Out!

North Texas has already been experiencing some Spring-like weather well ahead of March 20th, the official start date for Spring of this year. As we’ve been teetering from 50 degrees to the mid-80’s lately, many of us have been taking advantage of the sunnier warm days to get some tanning done.

It is important to understand that tanning should be done under limited circumstances. When we expose our skin to the sun, we are exposing it to the UV rays that come along with it. UV rays burn and damage skin cells when they are exposed for too long. This then causes more blood to flow through your skin, which results in the reddish coloration you get when you are sunburnt. Too much of this is very bad for your skin, and can ultimately lead to more serious, long-term skin diseases and conditions.

Because of the dangers the sun can create for your skin, you should wear sunscreen with a high SPF and reapply as the directions on the containers illustrate. Also, wear clothing that covers your skin more such as hats, long sleeves and pants. Since it is warmer out, you can wear light athletic clothing that is breathable so that you don’t get too hot. Lighter colors are better for reflecting sunlight as well, so keep your whites clean as Spring approaches!