LITTLE ROCK — Golf, swimming, tennis and walking trails. Any one or a combination of those activities were instrumental in many people choosing to relocate to Bella Vista.

Those leisure-time activities also come with one significant drawback - they are all conducted outside, in the sunlight.

We have heard of the negative effects of too much sun for years now. Just ask any dermatologist, like Dr.

Cheryl Hull, who practices in Bella Vista.

"I'm simplistic," Hull said of her advice to those who choose to spend time takingin the sun's rays.

At a minimum, she suggests the use of a moisturizer with an SPF - sun protection factor - of no less than 16. The moisturizer should be applied to areas that will be exposed to the sun, paying extra attention to the face, arms and back of the hands, she said.

For longer exposure, Hull recommends wearing a large-billed hat to cover the head and neck, increasing the SPF to at least 30 and reapplying it as recommended by the manufacturer and/or after swimming.

For those who choose not to accept the doctor's advice and find themselves with a nasty sunburn, Hull suggests taking a cool shower and, as long as they are not allergic to it, taking Ibuprofen to relieve the pain. She also suggests keeping the skin moist using a product with aloe or other soothing ingredients in it.

Of course, those who have a personal history of skin cancer - or even those who have a strong family history of the disease - should be very careful in the sun, the doctor said.

"If you have a personal history, you should be checked annually," she said, even if there are no signs of the disease.

She also recommends spouses and parents pay close attention to significant others and children, looking for any change or abnormalities in moles.

Hull said that while staying out of the sun is important, not getting enough of it can be detrimental as well.

She reports seeing a high number of patients lacking vitamin D, which the body receives from sunlight.

It can be replaced, she said, by a daily supplement or choosing foods that are high in vitamin D, such as fish.

"The American Academy of Dermatology suggests supplementing vitamin D and covering up from the sun," she said. "I bet I have five to 10 patients a week who tell me they wish they knew then what they know now."

While people of all ages are susceptible to problems from too much sun, there is at least one malady only the elderly suffer.

"I recommend anybody over 60 get a shingles vaccine," Hull said.

Shingles, also called herpes zoster or zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems; however, it can reappear years later, causing shingles.

Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Hull said the shot will reduce the risk of contracting the disease and help reduce the pain in those who are suffering from shingles.

For more information on dermatology, go to www.aad.org.

The CDC Web site is www.cdc.gov.

News, Pages 23 on 09/09/2009

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