Tag Archives: sunburn

Does Your Kid Fake Bake?

Hi.  My name is Michele and I am a tanaholic. I’ve suffered with tanorexia for decades, thanks in large part to being born and raised in Hawaii. Thirty plus years and countless sunburns later I can only hope that my daughter doesn’t end up suffering from the same condition. Living in northern Wisconsin she has a good chance of escaping the same fate as her mother.  Then again, she could end up just like me if she gets hooked on reality television beauty shows. According to a new study, college students who watch reality beauty shows are at least twice … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Eyes

One of my favorite journalists – heck, who am I kidding? – my favorite journalist, Anderson Cooper, suffered temporary blindness this past week. Did he have some genetic condition that caused this blindness?  Did he splash something in his eye?  No, Cooper sunburned his eyes while in Portugal. Sunburned his eyes?  Just the mere thought of that makes my eyes squint in horror! Awakened by pain, Cooper originally dismissed it as sand in his eyes.  But, he realized when he was blind that it was something more serious.  Cooper lost his eyesight for 36 hours. That must have been pretty … Continue reading →

Five-Month-Old Suffers Serious Sunburn

As my family prepares to fly to the southwestern part of the United States for a vacation, I’m consumed with packing and preparing for the trip. A number one thought in my mind is how to best keep our baby cool in the hot temperatures while still protecting her from the sun’s rays. As we plan to spend some of our time sightseeing outdoors in temperatures in the mid 80’s to 90’s, this is a real concern. Apparently, not every mother shares this concern. In a story that is sure to twist your stomach and cause emotions ranging from disbelief … Continue reading →

Fun in the Sun

Its spring and toddlers are out in the yard again. It is the time for sand boxes, plastic lawn mowers that resemble those their parents use and all kinds of fun activities in the sun. The sun, however, poses a major threat to toddlers. Even on cool or overcast days when the sun isn’t shining bright or heating everything to feel warm to the touch, it can still cause sunburn to the sensitive skin of toddlers. It is very important to use sunscreen. Don’t forget to reapply according to the instructions on the bottle. It does wear off and your … Continue reading →

5 Reasons to be Thankful it’s Winter

It seems like all anyone in the Midwest can think about this time of year is when spring will arrive. Now that it’s March, you might you might mistakenly expect spring to begin making its entrance. It might be happening other places, but it’s not happening here in the good old Midwest of the United States. It’s one thing to survive a long, cold winter as an adult. It’s another thing altogether trying to survive it with a baby. An adult can handle a long walk in 20-degree weather to maintain her sanity. A baby can’t. If you happen to … Continue reading →

Sneaky Ways to Remember Your Sunscreen

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Memorial Day has passed here in the States, and that means it’s semi-officially summer! Sure, you can count June 21st as the official start of summer if you like, but the pool’s open so it’s summer to me! (Back home at the Jersey shore, Memorial Day is also the official start of the summer tourist season, so that’s another good reason in my book.) In fact, I’m planning to spend a good chunk of the afternoon lounging by the pool with a book. That means it’s time for my annual nagging about wearing sunscreen! I’ll be the first to admit … Continue reading →

Dealing With Sunburn

It can happen when you least expect it. Maybe it was a cloudy day. (Shame on you! You should wear sunscreen anyway!) Maybe you were on a long drive and your arm got burned. Maybe you forgot your hat or your sunscreen. Sunburn happens, even when you’re prepared and careful. Here’s how to deal with it: When the burn is fresh — red, itchy, and achy — you need to focus on keeping the skin hydrated and soothing the inflammation. Use a moisturizer as frequently as needed. A cream with steroids, like hydrocortisone, will help relieve the discomfort, too. Aloe … Continue reading →

Natural Remedies For Sunburn

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Nobody’s perfect. We forget the sunscreen, and end up with sunburn. We find ourselves in situations where we wouldn’t imagine a burn was possible. That happened to me when I drove cross-country earlier this month — my left arm got toasted in the afternoon sun and I found myself in the middle of Iowa with a serious burn. So what can you do to ease the sting of sunburn? Cool water can be very soothing — if you can stand the sting of the shower water pummeling you. Try a washcloth or towel soaked in cold water if the shower … Continue reading →

Are You Ready For Sunny Days?

I don’t know about you, but we’ve had some WEIRD weather the last few weeks here in New Jersey. A little over a week ago, it snowed. Seriously! Monday, it was sunny and in the 80s. Over the weekend, we had a pair of gorgeous days with blue skies and highs in the 70s — just warm enough to wake up my spring fever! As soon as I saw the forecast and caught a breath of fresh air, I was ready to spend the day outside. I got out the deck chairs, I grabbed a book and a bottle of … Continue reading →

Quick Household Remedies For Skin Problems

You don’t need to resort to drastic measures to ease common skin problems like acne, itching, and bug bites. Everything you need to treat the problem may already be sitting around the house! To soothe itchy rashes caused by poison ivy, allergies, heat and sweat, perfumes, or other triggers: Take an over-the-counter antihistamine (like Benadryl). Spritz mineral water onto the affected area to ease inflammation — both the coolness and the trace minerals can help relieve the swelling and pain. Try ice water to numb the itch or pain. Apply olive oil directly to eczema or psoriasis flare-ups to keep … Continue reading →