DOESN'T WANT TO TAN

Dear Jellybean,

I'm Hispanic and have naturally medium olive skin (on the lighter side). It's not that I'm ashamed of my heritage because I'm actually so proud to be hispanic! I just HATE getting too tan. I love my natural color A LOT! But when i spend even a little time in the sunlight, i tan very easily and get super dark. I truly do sympathize with those who have the complete opposite problem and struggle to be tan, but i personally don't like being much darker. It just looks unnatural to me and i can't wear certain colors (like yellow) because it totally washes me out. It makes me so frustrated. I've tried sunscreen/block in high numbers, but it only makes me tan faster. I feel like i only have two alternatives: Having fun outside, get super dark, and be miserable for half a year... OR Stay inside most of spring and summer and hardly go swimming (which ALSO makes me miserable), but still be happy with my appearance. Do you know of any way of protecting my skin from tanning? Or at least something that will slow it down? HELP! Thanks! I'd really appreciate it!
-Miserable

Dear Miserable,

There's a straight-forward answer to your question. You need to buy some super-high-SPF sunscreen, and wear it faithfully at all times when you are outdoors, in summer and winter. Sunscreens with high-SPF are also sometimes called "sunblock".

You don't say where you live, but sunscreens are available in SPF-30 in most every country, and some have up to SPF-70 (Neutrogena makes one of the latter). The SPF number means the "sun protection factor". The higher the SPF, the more you are protected against the rays of the sun. An SPF-30 sunscreen may absorb 96.7 percent of UVB radiation, an SPF 40 aborbs about 97.5 percent, and so on.

Apply sunscreen on any area of your skin that will be exposed to the sun, including your face. Don't forget areas like behind your ears, and the backs of your knees. Since you like to go swimming, choose a waterproof formula of sunscreen (it should say "water-proof" or "water-resistant" on the label).

Check your local drugstore or department store for high-SPF sunscreens. Or shop online - you can get sunscreen at most online drugstores or beauty outlets, such as Drugstore.com or Sephora.

If you protect your skin constantly against the damaging effects of sunlight, you will not only maintain your natural skin color, but you'll staying looking younger for longer. UV radiation causes wrinkles, so the more sunblock you use, the fewer sun-created lines and creases you'll get.

One word of caution: Recent studies have shown that people who don't get much exposure to the sun, can be at risk for a vitamin-D deficiency, which can lead to being susceptible for certain illnesses. Do ask your family doctor if you need to take a vitamin-D supplement, since you're going to be warding off the sun's rays pretty much all the time.