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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Take a picture, it lasts longer. It's not just an old schoolyard taunt, it's good advice in the prevention of skin cancer. May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, and Jacki Donaldson over at The Cancer Blog has a terrific tip for making your own skin self-examinations more accurate: use your camera.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you do a monthly self-examination of your skin to detect the early warning signs of the different forms of skin cancer. (For instructions on how to do a self-exam, click here.) When you do your next exam, use your camera to take pictures of the moles or markings you want to keep an eye on, even if it means asking your partner or a friend to shoot those hard to reach places. Pull the photos back out during later exams and use them for an easy baseline reference.

Experts estimate that over 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. With summer right around the corner, take steps to protect your skin from the sun by following these easy tips.

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