Well, summer is here again, and for most of us its a time to lay back anjoy the sun! If you are one of those people whos idea of a heavenly holiday is lazing around on the beach, soaking up the rays then there is a high probability that you will have fallen victim to sunburn at some point during your life. However, just because it's a commonplace condition, it doesn't mean that it can't have serious side effects.

What are the effects of sunburn?

The best known types of ultraviolet sunlight are UVA and UVB. Too much exposure to either of these types of rays will eventually damage your skin causing wrinkles and brown spots, premature ageing , and in a few instances, serious consequences such as skin cancer.

As anyone who has experienced sunburn will be all too aware, its effects are very unpleasant indeed!. Short term exposure may result in painful burning and reddened and peeling skin. Sunstroke is much more serious: it dehydrates the sufferer and can cause high temperatures, vomiting and headaches.

The most devastating damage, however, is undoubtedly skin cancer. It is estimated that 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 60% of melanoma skin cancers (the more serious form) are caused by over exposure to the sun. Worryingly, melanomas are not just caused by prolonged and consistent over exposure: any episodes of sunburn, no matter how infrequent, also increase the risk due to the damage this does to your skin cells.

How can I prevent sunburn?

Whilst everyone should take precautions to protect themselves from exposure to the sun, there are some group of people who are more at risk than others:

• People with fair complexions and fair or red hair.
  
  
  
  
  
• People who work outdoors.
  
  
  
  
  
• Children: the amount of sun exposure is thought to be linked to the probability of developing skin cancer in adulthood.
  
  
  
  
  

The good news is that sunburn and sunstroke is entirely preventable: all you need to do is take sensible precautions and be aware of the damage that the sun can do to your body.

In hot places or during a hot day, stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when it is at its fiercest.

Cover up: wear a hat to protect your face and neck - the areas most commonly damaged by the sun; and wear loose clothing. Be aware that wet clothing lets through more UV rays than dry.

Use a good sunscreen with a minimum of SPF (sun protection factor) 15. Apply before going into the sun and reapply frequently throughout the day. Ensure the lotion you choose blocks UVA and UVB rays and be aware that products have a limited shelf life. No sunscreen can completely protect you from the effects of UV rays.

Keep babies and small children out of the sun completely if possible.

Do not wash yourself with soap all the time. Soap removes the oil from the skin, known as the acid mantle, that is there to keep it supple and resilient. At the same time be sure to take good quality omega 3 oils preferably together with broad spectrum (water and lipid soluble) antioxidants.

And of course..

Taking aloe vera capsules, such as Aloeride® before and during a holiday much helps the skin to stand up to a sudden change in sunlight exposure.

Aloeride can also help to rejuvenate the skin following exposure. But what is the proof that aloe vera can help sunburn beyond the fact that people have used it in this way for centuries? Other than the extensive research on burns, there is actually good quality research on the anti-ageing effect and effect on UV light exposure by Danhof, McKeown, Strickland and Yagi. But be aware, not all aloe vera products will give you the necessary molecules that help your skin to stand up to UV light or not enough of them.