AHH, THE JOYS OF SUMMERTIME — sunbathing at the beach, picking fresh corn in the field or taking adaylong hike in the woods are the kinds of activities that many waitfor all winter.
But if you're not careful, the joys of summertimecan turn your skin into the pain of a lifetime at a moment's notice.
Taking care of the body's largest organ -- a 150-pound man's skin, if stretched out, would cover 20 square feet -- is obviously a year-round task.
But in the summer, when warm weather causes us to shed clothes and expose more of the skin to the elements, skin problems are more common.
"You have to be careful with your skin," said Westminster dermatologist Lawrence R. Feldman.
Being careful with theskin is mostly a matter of common sense, he and other doctors say.
One of the most important tips to remember, Feldman said, is to avoid exposing the skin to anything that will cause it to dry out, blister, burn or become crusty.
And that includes lazing around the pool searching for that perfect tan.
"There's no such thing as a healthy tan," Feldman said. "Any ultraviolet radiation burns the skin, and the darkening of the skin is merely the body's attempt to protect itself."
To protect the skin, wearing protective sunscreens at all times in the summer is agood idea. Sunscreens, which come in various sun protection factor (SPF) formulas, help keep water in the skin while keeping ultraviolet radiation out.
Feldman recommends an SPF rating of at least 15.
"Wear a sunscreen, a protective hat and avoidactivities in the peak hours -- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- if you can," said dermatologist Ronald Goldner, who maintains practices in Westminster and Baltimore.
Understanding the vulnerability of the skinto damage is easier when you know what its function is.
The skin has three layers: the epidermis, about the width of a sheet of paper,acts as the protective covering for the rest of the skin; the dermis, about 40 times deeper than the epidermis, contains nerve endings and blood vessels; and the subcutaneous layer, the deepest layer, contains fat cells and blood vessels.
Most summertime skin ailments affect only the first or second layers and are caused by a variety of sources.
Sunburn -- which, Feldman said, is the same as burning yourskin with a match or open flame -- can be severe enough to warrant hospitalization, reconstructive surgery or even cause death in the rarest of cases.
