Summer is finally here!  This means beaches, parks, fruity drinks with little umbrellas, and a whole lot of skin-baring! Remember though, getting into the full swing of enjoying the outdoors means making every effort to protect your skin from sun-damage.

Sun damage to the skin is caused by Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.  These rays are invisible to the eye, but they enter the cells of the skin and may cause visible and invisible damage. UV rays from the sun can cause blotches, wrinkles, and skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the United States.  So how do keep your skin healthy and youthful without running from the sun?

There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from harsh UV rays, and do it stylishly at the same time!

• Put on sunscreen… Often. This applies to all skin colors and shades.  Many women of color don’t believe it is necessary to protect themselves with sunscreen due to the melanin in their skin.  Although, darker skin does offer some natural protection from the sun, people of color are still at risk of sun damage and skin cancer.  In fact skin cancer rates are increasing among U.S. minority groups.  Use a sunscreen of SPF15 or higher that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays (as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology), and re-apply it every two hours, for as long as you are in the sun.

There are many choices out there when it comes to sunscreen.  The best kind for you to wear will depend on your particular skin type and the type of activities you are involved in. For example if you have oily skin, choose an oil free sunscreen, or if you love the water and plan to swim, there are plenty of waterproof sunscreens available, however be sure to still reapply after swimming or if you sweat a lot.

My recommendation: Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion, SPF 30.  This product is oil free, great for sensitive skin, and provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. This product can be found at Amazon.com.  A two pack of 4 oz bottles retails at $16.20. http://www.amazon.com/Eucerin-Protective-Moisture-4-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B000FKHNLO

• Rock those sunglasses. When choosing a pair of sunglasses to wear, glasses with EPF 10+ for 100% UV blockage are best for the protection of your eyes and the skin around it. Choose glasses that wrap around, and are able to block as much UVA and UVB rays as possible. Large sunglasses are the trend for this summer, and there are many fun prints and designs to help accessorize your clothing.

My recommendation: SW Oversized Shield style-leopard print. They can be purchased from sunglasswarehouse.com Retail: $17.00 http://www.sunglasswarehouse.com/swovshst8.html

• Wear a hat. Wearing a hat with a wide brim to shade your head, neck, face and ears, can help prevent sun damage.  Play around with the colors and styles to accentuate your bathing suit, or a light, summery dress.  Try to choose darker wide brim hats to wear, as they offer more UV protection.

My recommendation: This is a big brim pink and black printed hat from e4hats.com.  It retails at a low $9.99 http://www.e4hats.com/_e/Big_Brim_Printed_Hat/product/bp003cr-black_pink/Big_Brim_Printed_Hat_Black_Pink.htm

• Search for shading. Find shade under trees or bring a large umbrella with you when you go to the beach.  Although UV rays can reflect off of virtually any surface (such as water, sand, or concrete) avoiding direct exposure to the sun helps to reduce the risk of skin damage.

My recommendation: Fancy pinwheel beach umbrella.  It has a 6’ canopy, and is self anchoring.  It can be found at shadeusa.com, and it retails for $29.95. http://www.shadeusa.com/beach_umbrellas.htm#PINWHEEL

Use all of these sun protection tips together in order to gain maximum protection from the sun, and reduce your risk of developing skin problems.  My motto?  Be safe and fabulous at the same time.  Happy summer!