Hot as Sh$T out!

Holy moly it is hot outside in DC. Just yesterday I went to Eastern Market and got the crap burned out of me. I know I should have worn sunscreen, but really, I didn't think it was THAT hot out there. So stupid. Now that it looks like the heat is in full swing for the spring and summer, I think I should give you all this powerful warning to WEAR SUNSCREEN!

PLEASE NOTE - I DID GET THESE OFF A DOCTORS WEBSITE, BUT ALWAYS READ THE SUNSCREEN BOTTLE OR CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU HAVE SUNBURN QUESTIONS. I take no responsibility for any of you silly kids going out with minimal sunscreen coverage!

• One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life
• A person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age
• Sunburn, also called erythema, is one of the most obvious signs of UV exposure and skin damage.
• The Skin Cancer Foundation learned that 42 percent of people polled get a sunburn at least once a year.
• If you have sunburn, then it most certainly means that your skin has become dehydrated
• UV-A rays are the primary offenders in sunburn.
• What is the SPF value on sunscreen? This is defined by a ratio of energy that is required to produce minimal redness of the skin penetrating the sunscreen, compared to the amount of energy required to produce the same reaction with the absence of sunscreen.
• An example as provided by Dr. McKay, if one would normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, applying a 15 SPF would provide you approximately 150 minutes in the sun before burning, approximately 15 times the protection.
• Sunscreen needs to be applied one half hour before exposure for full skin absorption.
• Waterproof type sunscreen should be applied at least once an hour before going out into the sun.
• Sweating, swimming, and exposure to rain decrease the effect of SPF.
• The FDA recommends reapplying sunscreen every 40-80 minutes.
• Insect repellents containing Deet will decrease a product’s SPF by anywhere from 15-30%.
• Lycra nearly blocks 100% of all UV radiation, but only 2% when maximally stretched out.  
• The typical white cotton shirt has an SPF of 5-9.