Sunscreen is a Must

The most common cancer in the United States is Melanoma (skin cancer).  There are approximately 3.5 million people diagnosed with Melanoma each year.  That being said, its also one of the most preventable cancers that there is, yet most people continue to neglect proper precautions....which is as simple as applying an adequate amount of sunscreen each time that you will be engaging in an outdoor activity.  Recent research suggests that for an adult to get adequate protection from sunscreen, use one with an SPF rating of 30.  Anything above 30 does not seem to add any additional protection so do not spend more money to get a lotion with an SPF of 287 :)  Companies are no longer able to market sunscreens as being "water proof" as there is no such thing as a true waterproof sunscreen lotion currently.  There are those that are water resistant and they're worth using if you will be swimming or sweating.  I suggest reapplying any sunscreen after each time you exit the water or every 30 minutes if you are a heavy sweater like I am.  Water resistant sunscreens have been proven to be less soluble that those that are not water resistant, so again, it's worth using this variety.  Also, keep in mind that any sunscreen with an SPF lower than 15 cannot legally claim to prevent skin cancer, so in my option they really do not do much in the way of protection.  An adult should use the equivalent of 2 shot glasses worth of sunscreen to cover themselves when in a swimsuit.  Research shows that 90% of all signs of aging are caused by sun exposure and UV rays!  Also I had an interesting talk with my dental hygienist that pointed out that most people do little to protect their eyes from sunburns.  She said that her eye doctor told her that many cheap sunglasses have no UV protection, and to make certain that you look on the glasses before you buy them to make certain that they do.  The eye doctor remarked that sunglasses with no UV protection actually can cause more eye damage due to the tinting of the glasses allowing the eyes to relax and therefore we do not squint our eyes as a means of natural protection.