2006-07-06
Author: Randell Mauricio
The regional chief of staff with the Central Regional Health Authority urges you to reduce sun exposure.  

Doctor Denis Fortier feels people often take the risk of sunburn for granted, and with the u-v index reaching high levels it could take only 15 minutes for the sun to leave its mark.  

He adds the genetic makeup in some people can put them in higher risks.  A fair-skinned, blonde or red-headed person is far more susceptible to early sunburn than a darker-skinned and darker-haired individual.  

Fortier identifies the peak sunburning hours are between 10 AM and 4 PM.  He notes sunburn can leave long-term effects on your skin -- ranging from early aging and wrinkling, down to serious conditions like skin cancer.