There's much you can do to protect yourself and to help keep your family's skin healthy. In fact, one of the most effective means may be the simplest: protect yourself against the sun. The sun remains a major cause of premature skin aging such as dry skin, wrinkles and age spots. No matter what your age, it's important to protect yourself against the sun. A few sun safe habits to make your own and to instill in your family are:

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• Avoid Sun tanning and lengthy sun exposure ( beyond 30 minutes)

• Avoid peak hours if possible. The sun's damaging rays (called ultraviolet or "UV" rays) are the strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM. the peak hours for harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Remain inside or seek out the shade.

• Apply sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 40, and follow directions carefully paying attention to expiration dates. UV rays can pass through clouds and reflect off of cement and even snow. So be sure to wear sunscreen every day. Apply liberally and remember to apply to the areas that you tend to miss such as your ears, hands and feet

• USE DERM BRANDS- Skinceuticals, IS Clincals, Elta MD, Skin Medica, Dr. Obagi or Revisions are excellent choices.  High levels of Titanium and zinc are ccritical to great protection. Re-apply regularly and be sure to cover all areas- face, neck, chest, arms, and scalp. 

• Stay away from tanning beds.

• Instill good sun protection habits in your children at an early age. The damage that leads to adult skin cancer can start in childhood.

• Wear protective clothing. Wear wide-brimmed hats, UV-blocking sunglasses and dark, tightly-woven fabric to reduce exposure to the sun's harmful rays. Clothing specially designed to filter out sun should be considered an option if you simply cannot avoid exposure.