by Lauren Haslett

Created on: November 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 18, 2009

It's easy to forget the sunscreen once in awhile on a quick jaunt down the block, or to neglect to bring that big hat and sunglasses along for your day at the beach, but taking care of your fair skin properly while out in the sun is one of the most important things you can do now to protect your health (and, bonus!, your looks) for the future.

People of all skin colors and types risk the health of their skin when they leave it unprotected from the sun's rays, but the fair-complexioned among us are putting ourselves in even greater jeopardy when we "forget" to shield ourselves, especially on hot days. Exposure to the sun, though it might give you a nice-looking glow for a few days, brings with it a variety of health problems and possibly serious concerns. According to WebMD, prolonged and/or repeated sun exposure can cause not only visible problems like aging of the skin in the form of wrinkles and age spots, or even other noticeable harm like sallowness (a yellow discoloration of the skin), but also potentially more serious ills such as benign tumors and pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions, among other things. Since skin cancers are some of the most common and widespread forms of cancer in the United States, it is crucial to do whatever you can to protect yourself from these often preventable (but sadly, sometimes deadly) diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a helpful website geared toward educating the public about skin cancer, as well as about how to prevent skin damage and do all you can to keep yourself healthy and looking good well into the future.

Some things you can do to protect your fair skin:

1. Get in the habit of wearing sunscreen all the time, even when it's not so hot out. To make sure your skin stays protected every day, and not just when you're spending a full day out in the sun, put on a layer of at least SPF 15,no matter what you're doing. Many body and facial moisturizers now come with sun protection already added in, so you won't even have to add a step to your morning routine; it couldn't be easier! And getting in the habit now will mean you'll be able to stick with it much more easily when summer and those scorching hot days come around again, and be much less likely to forget the sun protection entirely, a big no-no.

2. When you know you are going to be out in the sun and the heat for long periods of time, make sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat and/or sunglasses, to protect your face and eyes. If you have trouble remembering to bring this protective gear along, try getting an extra hat or pair of glasses (and even an extra tube of sunscreen, for that matter) and keep them in your car, so that you have them with you no matter where you end up going, even if it's a spontaneous trip.

3. Cover up. One of the easier things you can do to protect yourself on a hot day is to cover as much of your fair skin as you can in protective clothing; try some active wear that wicks away sweat from the body, to keep your cool if you're doing some vigorous outdoor activity, or wear a cover up to the beach to keep at least part of your body hidden from the sun's harmful rays.

4. Finally, seek the shade! Bring a big umbrella to the beach with you, or find some trees to sit underneath while taking a breather from whatever else you might be doing. The best way to keep from getting burned and damaging your skin is to just stay out of the open (and the direct, scorching sunlight).

Following these common sense tips are the simplest and best ways to shield your fair, sun-sensitive skin from the damage UVA and UVB rays can cause and to keep your skin looking young, beautiful, and healthy for years to come.

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