Have you ever been sunburned while hiking Camelback mountain or the Grand Canyon? While enjoying Arizona’s great outdoors, remember to stay hydrated and practice good sun protection. We used to think of the skin as a our outer shell, but it has many other functions: the skin is essential in temperature regulation through both blood flow and sweating. Additionally, the skin acts as a part of our hormone systems and helps convert inactive vitamin D to activated vitamin D.

Sunprotection doesn’t start with sunscreen. It starts with planning your activities to avoid direct sun during the day’s most intense hours. Then make use of sunprotective clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Finally, apply sunscreen to high-risk areas or exposed skin. These are the best ways to avoid ending up with sun-damaged skin that could eventually lead to skin cancer.

Sunburn is no joke. Severe sunburns can be painful, and the associated inflammation can also give you fevers, chills, and other flu-like symptoms. If you get a bad sunburn, consider discussing it with your Phoenix dermatologist, and ask if there are any internal factors or medicines that may make your skin more sensitive to the sun.