Do All Your Baking in the Kitchen, Not in the Sun!

This is the second column by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar, M.D. Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community. Dr. Memar has launched a campaign called "Age Well, Live Well" designed specifically for the LGBT community. In the coming months Dr. Memar will help debunk the myths about achieving good skin – from holistic approaches to cosmetic procedures. If you have any questions submit them via ChicagoPride.com and Dr. Memar will address them in future columns.

The hot, hazy days of summer are just around the corner — and so is overexposure to the sun. Contrary to popular myth, a good tan is not a measure of good health, but actually a sign of skin injury. Too much sun can cause sunburn, wrinkles, freckles, skin texture changes, dilated blood vessels, rash problems and worst of all, deadly skin cancers. Consider using a self-tanner to get that bronzed healthy glow. Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy the sun safely:

Ultraviolet light ages your skin. And the reason it does that, it's a longer wavelength, so it can penetrate deeper into the skin and it attacks the layers that give your skin its tone and its elasticity, and as a result you get the lines, the wrinkles, all the things associated from aging,.

In all parts of the world, except for the US, you can enjoy products made with a wonderful chemical called Mexoryl -- known to give you an almost perfect protection against sunshine.

However, for whatever reason, you cannot legally buy it in the United States because the Food and Drug Administration won’t approve it. They won't even say why. Mexoryl has been in use in other countries for 13 years and has passed many safety tests. Although buying or selling sunscreens with Mexoryl is illegal in the United States, that doesn't mean sunscreens with Mexoryl aren't bought and sold here. I have seen it at some pharmacies. It was expensive though, between $30 to $50.

My list of the top five sunscreens:

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This is the second column by popular Chicago dermatologist Omeed Memar, M.D. Dr. Memar’s practice focuses on good skin care for the LGBT community. Dr. Memar has launched a campaign called "Age Well, Live Well" designed specifically for the LGBT community. In the coming months Dr. Memar will help debunk the myths about achieving good skin – from holistic approaches to cosmetic procedures. If you have any questions submit them via ChicagoPride.com and Dr. Memar will address them in future columns.