There is no better way to spend a hot summer day than soaking up some sun, whether beach-side, pool-side or lake-side. But while some of us aspire to be as brown as a Brazilian supermodel, skin cancer is no joke.
So before you strip down and lay out, consult with the following iPhone apps. They will ensure that you achieve that healthy summer glow without the negative repercussions.
With dermatologists shouting at the top of their lungs about the dangers of excessive sun exposure – skin cancer and wrinkles are just two of the many delightful ramifications – it is important to take the necessary precautionary steps. Both the iSunBurn app ($0.99) and the Coppertone MyUVAlert app (free) will help you to do just that by making a UV Index reading and then indicating the level of risk you face from unprotected sun exposure. The Coppertone app’s custom reminders about when you need to reapply your sunscreen are particularly handy.
Anyone who has lathered on the goo only to find themselves with a bad burn a few hours later knows that not all sunscreen products are created equally. So how do you choose when faced with a shelf full of options? Turn to the free EWG SunScreen Buyer’s Guide app, it is the bible of sunscreens. It includes details about product ingredients, UVB protection, UVA protection, as well as an overall product score.
For those looking for an all-purpose sun consultant, the $0.99 Sun Alert app is a must-have. Taking your skin type into consideration, it gives you all the advice you need including the strength of the sunscreen you should be using and how often you should reapply. It also does things like help you plan at what times of the day you should perform outdoor activities so as to minimize sun exposure.
And while sunscreen and shade serve to protect your skin from the outside, you also need to attack from the inside. We are talking about water, people! Staying hydrated is always important, but it becomes even more so during the summer months. The free Hydrate Yourself app will help ensure you are drinking a sufficient quantity of water with features like built-in calculators, timed notifications, and logs to show how you are doing with your water consumption over a period of weeks or months.
If you have any concerns about your skin, you should see a dermatologist. But for some basic information there is the Skin Scanner app ($0.99). It will fill you in on what to look for when it comes to skin damage, and let you know what is normal and what is not. If there is a particular skin spot that you want to keep an eye on, this app will help you track it with photos and written descriptions.
