Dear Suzanne, The summer can be a great time for people of all ages to get "out in the sun." However, one must know how to protect his or herself from the dangers that the sun possesses. Sunburn is not small potatoes. It can severely damage the skin and, in extreme cases, can cause skin cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) rays, or ultraviolet radiation, is the real cause of sunburn. UV rays are a part of sunlight that we can't see. Whenever there is sunlight, there are UV rays. Our ozone layer surrounding the earth in the atmosphere does a good job of blocking most of the UV radiation, but some still gets through. To avoid sunburn, always wear "sunscreen" or "sun block" when going in the sun for more than fifteen minutes. (Fifteen minutes is how long it takes for UV rays to cause sunburn.) Products like "sunscreen" and "sun block" UV rays to prevent burning. There is a lot of false information about sunburn that we should clear up now. First, "sunscreen" and "sun block" do not stop a person from tanning, they just prevent sunburn. Second, sunlight and UV rays can burn a person through clouds and water. So a person swimming on a cloudy day can still get sunburn. Also it is important to remember that the peak hours for getting sunburn are between 10 A.M. ad 3 P.M.

~ Dr. Morrison