Our team at AFC Urgent Care Sevierville hopes you’ve been enjoying the sunny days of summer by taking advantage of the theme park right outside our back door—Dollywood. But just make sure it is not at your skin’s expense. Protect the Skin You’re In Our team completely understands. You are excited to get out of your car and make your way to the Dollywood gates. Which ride will it be first? Mystery Mine? Wild Eagle? Maybe the Tennessee Tornado? No matter what rides you choose, one thing you need to bring with you is your skin safety knowledge. Read on for some steps you should take to help protect your skin from a serious burn this summer. First, and foremost, wear sunscreen! Are you and your family applying a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30? If not, please start making this a habit. Even if it looks to be a cloudy day outside, the majority of the sun’s harmful rays still reach the earth. Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of the skin at least 15 minutes before heading outdoors. In addition, reapply the sunscreen at least every two hours (or more often if swimming or sweating) to ensure the protective lotion lasts throughout the day. Of course, your skin isn’t the only organ that can burn from the hot summer sun. Your eyes can also suffer a sunburn, which is why it is important to wear sunglasses that have total UV protection. In addition, you can help add even more protection while out in the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which will protect your entire head and ears. If possible, try to avoid the hottest part of the day, which is usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Of course, when you are at Dollywood, how can you miss the sun between these hours? Take a break and watch the “Gazillion Bubbles” at DP’s Celebrity Theater or “Country Crossroads” at the Valley Theater. But if you want to keep running around outdoors and tackling more rides like Blazing Fury and Thunderhead, then make sure you keep reapplying that sunscreen! Remember, no matter how much protection you use, it’s still important to have your skin checked regularly to ensure there are no new changes or growths that are unusual to you. Did you recently suffer a sunburn? Visit AFC Urgent Care Sevierville to make sure your sunburn is being cared for correctly.