TRAVERSE CITY, MI. — Sunburns are painful in the short term and dangerous in the long term. Any amount of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays accelerates skin aging. Getting burned repeatedly can lead to a variety of problems including skin cancer.

“The burn is physical damage to the skin,” said Acme, Michigan dermatologist Dr. Mark Saunders. “It’s like any other burn.”

But the summer is all about being outside. People who don’t want to lock themselves indoors need to protect themselves from the battering ram of the sun’s ultraviolet cannon. Clothing provides a good suit of armor — hat, long-sleeved shirt, long pants and black socks with sandals keep sun safely away from skin. If that’s not your style, sunscreen is the answer.

Sunblock is a necessity for skin-safe outdoor activity, dermatologists said. They recommend products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.

Brands like Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat and Hang Ten make their money selling products that protect skin from ultraviolet violence. They compete in the numbers game as they try to convince consumers that their products are best.

“We think 30 is the number to aim for,” said Dr. Joan Griner, of Associates in Dermatology in Traverse City. “Higher numbers are better, but not much better. And some people are worried about higher concentrations of chemicals in the higher numbers.”

It doesn’t matter if the sunscreen is lotion, gel or spray.

“Find one that you like and works well with your skin type,” said Dr. Mark Pomaranski, of Northwest Michigan Dermatology in Traverse City. “If you like the product, you are more likely to consistently use it. Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm with SPF.”

Griner and Saunders agree that a gradually built-up base tan offers some minimal protection from further damage from sunburn. But both said a base tan itself is dangerous. When Griner sees a patient with a deep tan, she’s relieved when no cancer is detected.

“But I’m worried that they’re going to develop problems in the future,” she said.

Parents should limit their children’s time in direct sun.

“Just one blistering sunburn at an early age can result in up to 50 percent more likelihood of developing skin cancer,” said Pomaranski.

Even minor sunburns increase the chance of developing skin cancer, he said. The same goes for tans.

“There’s no such thing as a safe tan.” Griner said. “Color change does indicate damaged skin. Sunburn will directly damage the skin cells. Down the road, you can start to see evidence of past damage — aging changes accelerate, dark spots appear.”

Noses and other exposed body parts bear the brunt of skin damage from the sun. But skin cancer can show up anywhere. Saunders originally was puzzled when one patient developed the disease on the bottom of the chin. It turned out the patient was a longtime fishing enthusiast. Saunders theorizes that UV rays reflected from the water’s surface were the culprit.

“Eighty-five percent of ultraviolet rays are reflected by water,” Saunders said.

Dermatologists have found skin cancer on almost all sections of the human body.

“Some people are developing cancer on areas that never see the light of day,” Griner said.

She said one theory suggests that a sunburn can shut down the skin’s natural immune system and allow damage to migrate to areas that aren’t directly exposed to the sun’s rays.

“There’s a lot about melanoma and skin cancer that we don’t know,” Griner said.

One in every five U.S. citizens will develop skin cancer during their lifetimes, said Pomaranski. Sunburn is dangerous. Tanning isn’t much safer.

“Tanning is simply your body’s response to damage,” he said.

Nielsen writes for The Traverse City, Michigan Record-Eagle