Today is National Don’t Fry Day.  It is the day where we are to become more aware of learning ways we can protect our skin from the sun’s dangerous rays and the damage that it can wreak on our skin. 

My dad had skin cancer on his face, on his nose and shoulder to be exact.  He loved to sit in the back yard on his days off in the summertime without a shirt and with his fair skin, he’d burn and turn red like a lobster, but that didn’t seem to deter him from doing it again the next day. 

I understand, it was his way to relax, he would read the paper out in the back yard, chill out and get some Vitamin D.  Little did he know it at the time, but, he was severely damaging his skin by doing it year after year which is why he ended up with skin cancer.  When he began having issues, the doctors had to remove several growths that were cancerous.   He was in a lot of pain.

I also was a sun worshiper as a teen.  I couldn't get enough time at the beach.  I can remember me and my girlfriends slathering on baby oil mixed with iodine in it  to give us more of a “glow” and then to boot, we’d use the sun visors up under our chins begging the sun to fry our faces a little bit more.

My mom would always yell at me to stop tanning so much and to wear some sun screen.  I eventually listened and in my late 20’s I began sitting under the umbrella at the beach.  Although I still enjoy a great tan, I use the highest SPF I can find and limit the amount of sun exposure.  Premature aging is not pretty.  Have you ever seen the movie There’s Something About Mary?    Remember the old lady neighbor who was wrinkled like a prune?  Do you want your skin to look like that?  I know I don’t and it frightens the heck out of me.

In order to keep your skin free from sun damage, be sure that when you go outdoors that you wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 or higher.  Be sure to reapply often as I believe most of them only last between 60-80 minutes so be definitely read the labels so you'll know when its time to reapply.

There are many natural products out there now as well in case you’re looking for alternatives to what’s at the drugstores and supermarkets.

Here are some products to keep you from frying not only your skin, lips, hands and hair to keep yourself protected from the sun’s damaging rays:

Natural Sunscreen

Face Protection

Lip Protection

Hair Protector from the Sun

Hand Protection

And if you do over do it and get a bit crispy, here are a couple of life savers to remove the sting from the burn:

Sunburn Relief

One of the best things I like to do to protect myself is to always wear sunglasses (be sure they have a UV coating) and a hat when spending time outdoors.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Ray Ban Sunglasses

Hats for Women

Hats for Men

Better still, avoid the sun altogether -- just use self tanner to look like a sun-kissed God or Goddess:

Nivea Sunless Tanner

I hope you and your families have an amazing Memorial Day weekend. 

God Bless America.  Stay safe!

Love, peace, happiness & success,

Dawn-Marie Mutell

XO