We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

Want flatter abs for that Labor Day getaway? Check out our step-by-step flat-abs exercise guide.

And while you're thinking about summer beach getaways, you might want to think of protecting your skin. But if sunscreen slips your mind, check out these sunburn-soothing home remedies from the editors at AOL Health.

Plus, to defend against summer stings of a different kind, head to our mosquito-bite-relief guide. (Who knew just how handy toothpaste could be?)

It's summertime. We all want to be outside as much as we can, because before you know it, the days will be short and the ground will be covered with snow.

While getting about 20 minutes of sun each day is important for our vitamin D levels, too much sun can lead to painful burns and risks of skin cancer. One simple -- and fashionable -- way to protect yourself is by wearing a hat.

Healthy Hats is a great place to start shopping for the perfect sun protection. Besides offering lifeguard hats and adventurer hats (think safari), they've got sun smart tips to help you enjoy the sun safely.

During the summer, my son goes to day camp . It's an awesome camp -- very structured, very active, and he always comes home with stories of the fun things he did that day. Last Thursday they went on a field trip to the beach. My son came home prickly and hot from a sunburn. (They applied sunscreen on all the kids when they got to the beach, but never reapplied throughout the day. I bet there were a lot of sunburned kids that day!)

But what exactly happens to your skin when you get burned? After exposure to the sun, your capillaries dilate, causing the skin to appear pink. Then, skin cells release a chemical that triggers inflammation. Within 12 hours, skin cells begin to die and the inflammation reddens. A tan forms when your skin cells release a pigment to help block your skin from UV rays. (And, no, you shouldn't consider a tan "protection" from the sun. Burn or tan, it all boils down to one thing -- skin damage.)

So take steps to protect your skin from the sun. If you do get burned, Bethany has some tips.

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Hopefully, you practiced good sun safety this weekend and didn't end up with a painful sunburn. Staying in the shade, avoiding the hottest part of the day, wearing protective clothing, and slapping on the sunscreen are all good ways to keep your skin safe from the hot summertime sun.

If you did forget the sunscreen or stay out a little too long, however, it's always good to know how to soothe that painful burn. About.com has some good advice, including:

• Take a cool shower or bath.
• Check for blisters, which indicate second degree burns. If the burn covers a large portion of the body (like a whole arm), seek medical attention right away.
• Apply aloe to the affected area -- NOT butter or oil.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
• Wear natural, loose, breathable fabrics like cotton until you heal.
• Stay out of the sun, which will only make your burn worse.

Call 911 or head straight to the nearest ER if the person with the sunburn has trouble breathing or if swelling gets so bad that circulation to any area of the body (such as hands or feet) seems to be compromised.

Sunburns are painful and, in severe situations, can be serious. Refresh yourself on sun safety rules before the hottest days of summer arrive, and find a sunscreen that's right for you at the Environmental Working Group's database.

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Are you hitting the beach during the holiday weekend? If so, don't forget to protect your eyes from the sun! While it's always important to lather on the sunscreen before heading out, it's equally important to protect your eyes from UV rays.

Numerous eye problems can result from sun damage. Young people especially need to remember to wear eye protection as they tend to be outdoors in the bright sunlight more than their adult counterparts. A good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses is you first line protection, but wide-brimmed hats can also provide some shade.

An American Optometric Association survey revealed that 40% of Americans don't consider UV protection an important criteria in sunglasses. It is important. Look for sunglasses that block out 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.

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Now there's a soap that gets you squeaky clean and protects you from the sun's harmful rays. The all-natural soap provides an all-over layer of SPF 10 protection.

SPF 10 isn't enough for a day at the beach or for when you're spending prolonged periods of time in the sun. But I think a soap that provides a good base layer of protection is a great idea. It's also a perfect low-level protector for days when your exposure to the sun is minimal. You can purchase the soap online for $8.

Despite our knowledge about the importance of sun protection, sunburns seem to be on the rise. The numbers of reported sunburns in the US rose roughly 2% from 1999 to 2004. Check out the gallery for additional ideas on how to protect your skin from the sun. And don't forget to go to AOL Body for more sun safe tips.

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It seems pretty obvious that people who live in areas with high UV exposure have higher rates of skin cancer. Researchers have known for years that people who live their lives in the South are at a greater risk than those in the North.

But a recent study discovered something interesting. While rates of squamous cell skin cancer are definitely affected by geography, basal cell carcinoma is only moderately affected. Interestingly, the risk of melanoma is the same no matter where you live.

It may be that some skin cancers have a stronger genetic component than others, but that theory has not been tested. It's important to note, too, that this study involved women only. Men may be affected differently. Regardless, the American Cancer Society encourages everyone who plans to spend time in the sun to:

• Slip on a shirt.
• Slop on the sunscreen.
• Slap on a hat.

This will protect your skin from the sun, no matter where you live.

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Vitamin D got a lot of attention in 2007, and health experts are starting to recommend a daily dose of sunshine for your good health. A recent study found that low sun exposure was linked to a significantly higher risk of lung cancer, leading scientists to believe that vitamin D plays a role in that disease too.

But while vitamin D may someday become part of a treatment or prevention program for lung cancer, health experts say that it can't undo the damages of smoking, and smoking cessation and prevention programs should still be the number one priority in preventing the disease.

You don't have to sunbathe to get enough vitamin D. Only 5-15 minutes exposure on your arms and face is enough to generate your daily quota. So after that, be sure to protect yourself from a burn!

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

We all know the old wives' tale, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but is it really true?

Well, it is the season, and we are all eating them, so we may as well find out just how good for us apples are.

High in vitamin C and antioxidants and soluble and insoluble fiber, the apple just may keep the cardiologist away, since these nutrients are so heart-protective. Apples even provide some sun protection when you eat them, so avoid a sunburn with an apple snack before you head outdoors and the dermatologist may be a doctor of the past.

Some tips to make sure you are getting the most from the apples you are eating:

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Maybe it's vain (alright it is vain) but the thought of getting super wrinkly as I age scares me. A lot. While I can't always afford to buy really expensive department store make-up and skin creams (there's nothing wrong with the cheaper varieties found at a drug store, right?) my one extravagance is luxurious (and pricey) eye cream. I know I'm probably falling for an elaborate marketing scheme, but I don't care -- my eye creams make me believe that I'm temporarily holding crow's feet at bay.

To be honest, I think my skin is still looking OK for my age. I've worn moisturizer with SPF for years and have never smoked. I don't have fair, freckled skin, have never had a blistering sunburn and I'm neither obese nor underweight. I have however, used a tanning bed on occasion, I enjoy a drink (or a few) from time to time and I frequently get less than 6 hours of sleep a night.

According to this quiz, all of the above affect how well your skin ages. I took the test and came out with a score of 5, which I must say I'm pretty proud of. I do know though, that if I'm not careful a few of my bad habits could cause my skin to age prematurely. If you're interested in the real age of your skin, try out the quiz and see how you measure up and how you can improve the look your body's largest organ.

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We all have skin issues, and we all spend a lot of money and use a lot of chemicals trying to get rid of them. Summertime is especially hard on the skin with sunburns and bug bites on top of year round issues like breakouts and eczema, leaving your medicine cabinet full of tubes and ointments for everything you can think of. But did you know you might be able to do away with many of them just by heading to the kitchen when you need something? By combining simple ingredients you might already have you can not only treat issues like cold sores and blisters successfully, but in an all natural way.

Read this article for home remedy ideas you probably would have never thought of on your own, like using apple-cider vinegar on a sunburn or taking digestive enzyme pills to help heal eczema.

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It's all too easy to lose track of time when having fun in the sun during this time of year -- the time flies and before you know it you've burnt yourself to a crisp and not only are you suffering for days afterwards but there's the worry of what permanent long-term damage you've done to yourself in the way of wrinkles and risk for skin cancer. But becoming that neurotic person that re-applies sunscreen every 5 minutes and watches the clock all day is no fun either, so here's a good solution: get a watch that will automatically notify you when you need to reapply sunblock or get out of the sun -- that way you can relax and have fun and forget! Well at least until the alarm goes off.

The SunTimer is the ultimate UV detector in the form of a watch that you program with your skin type and SPF level, which it then uses to track your sun exposure to let you know when you've had enough. It has handy features like a lightening/darkening display according to light levels, and all the usual features like stopwatch and alarm.

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Got a sunburn this year already? Although sunburns are not confined to the spring and summer seasons, that is the time when most of them occur. The CDC says that more U.S. adults are becoming sunburned than ever before as well, and with the summer season almost here, it's time to revisit those methods of sunburn prevention.

From 1999 to 2004, the percentage of U.S. adults who received a sunburn increased from 31.8% to 33.7%, which says not enough adults are using adequate techniques to ensure that red and painful skin doesn't come to them while outside.

Amazingly to some, Arizona residents saw the least sunburns (in a very hot state, I might add) while Utah residents saw the most. Want some tips to avoid sunburns? These may seem obvious to most, but with sunburns on the rise, a reminder is always a good thing.

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As far as exciting, outdoor summer events go, it doesn't get much hotter than the New Orleans Jazz Festival, both for the ultra-hip grooves as well as the soaring Louisiana temperatures. As one music-loving blogger documents, the beats were hot but so was the blazing sun, making it necessary to plan ahead when going to this and similar events in order to avoid heat-related illnesses.

While certain groups are more prone to being affected by hot and humid weather -- young children and the elderly are especially at risk -- anyone can wind up with sunstroke, heat exhaustion and painful sunburns if they're not careful. If you know that you will be attending a festival, concert, fair or other outdoor event, check out this article first as it details the symptoms to look for when diagnosing various illnesses caused by extreme heat as well as how to treat them.

A range of tips to help avoid getting sick in the sun are also given and some of the most important include wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 15, wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and, if possible, spending some time in an air-conditioned area or at least trying to find some shade from time to time. Most importantly, staying well hydrated is a necessity. This means not only drinking a lot of water, but also avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks as these will have the opposite effect and dehydrate you.

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The season of sun and summer fun is almost here, and the season of new peely sunburns is here now. The aisles at the drugstore are filling up with sunscreens of every type, and making sure you get stocked up is as important as ever. It is also important to understand the factors that put you at particular risk for getting a sunburn so you can take necessary measures to protect yourself. As humans we are all at risk of getting burned by the sun if we aren't careful, but special risk factors to consider are:

• Babies and children with fairer and more delicate skin.
  
• Adults with fair skin tones (although remember: everybody can burn!)
• Spending time outdoors during the peak hours of 10am to 4pm
• Using a tanning bed
• Spending time near or on reflective surfaces like sand and water
• Using certain medications that increase your sun sensitivity, like some birth controls and antibiotics

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