I knew one of these fancy schmancy bathing suits were going to get someone in trouble sooner or later.

I read today in the New York Post about a woman who suffered significant third degree burns after the underwire in her bikini top became superheated while she was sunbathing. As a result, she is suing the bathing suit manufacturer, Swimwear Anywhere.

Though we live in an age of frivolous lawsuits, I have to say that I agree with this particular woman in pursuing restitution. After all, there was no warning of potential side effects. At least a label stating, “Beware: Hot Bikini; Danger if exposed to sun,” should have been placed on the bathing suit.

Look, the thing is, industries have a habit of reinventing products often. That means that even if you’re accustomed to using a certain item safely, whether it is clothing or exercise equipment or children’s toys, in another year or so something about the way that item is manufactured may have changed.

Metals and plastics are utilized in new ways all the time, and that is why it is so important to analyze whether or not these items have been properly tested. Many companies work on gross margins that rely on inexpensive and sometimes untested manufacturing.

I used the example of this story to bring attention, especially now in summertime when many parents are going to utilize beach toys, recreational chairs and other items, to the important issue of product safety.

Not only is there a risk of overheating – such as the Authentic Heroes Target Practice Tank play set recalled earlier this year because the controller posed a burn hazard – but some toys might actually catch on fire, such as what happened with the recalled Knight Hawk remote-controlled toy helicopters.

And that’s not even taking into account all the other possible health risks certain products can pose, such as choking hazards, poisoning hazards or even amputation hazards.

So, as always be careful, and spend your money wisely.

You would never think so looking at it, but the skin is an organ just like the heart or the liver. In fact, it happens to be the largest organ in the body.

The skin, as the border between the self and the outside world, is also the organ that defines us. It protects our internal organs from environmental threats. And for many people, the skin’s appearance, the presence or lack of wrinkles, for instance, is what defines aging, more so than the condition of their vital internal organs. Our skin is very important to us, but skin health is not something to which we give much (or any) thought.

The Skinny on Skin

Number of days it takes for the skin to renew itself: 28

Thickness of human skin in inches: 0.06 to 0.16

Average weight of adult male skin in pounds: 7

Surface area of adult male skin in square feet: 22

Millions of skin cells in average adult: 300

Number of hairs on a square half inch of skin: 10

Number of sweat glands in a square half inch of skin: 100

Number of feet of blood vessels in a square half inch of skin: 3.2

Number of days it takes for the skin to replace itself: 52 to 75

As that part of our body that is the most exposed to the environment, the skin’s greatest threat is the sun’s rays, and overexposure to these rays appears to be the most important factor in the development of skin cancer, which is on the rise worldwide. One out of every five Americans will develop skin cancer, and nearly 10,000 will die from it each year. Skin cancer was long considered a problem only for people over 50, but in the last couple of decades, the rate of skin cancer for people in their forties and younger has multiplied explosively. You need to think about your skin before it’s too late.

Sunny Myths

Sunscreen protects you against all ultraviolet rays from the sun.

FALSE. It protects you from the sun’s UVB rays, but no sunscreen product screens out all UVA rays, which are the cause of melanomas. So just because you put on sunscreen, you are not 100 percent protected.

You don’t need to reapply sunscreen when you come out of the water if you use waterproof sunscreen lotions.

FALSE. There’s no such a thing as a waterproof sunscreen. If you go into the water, you have to reapply these creams immediately because they get washed off.

Suntans are a sign of healthy skin.

FALSE. A tan is a sign of skin damage. The tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burns from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The sun produces two types of ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, are more responsible for melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer. The ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are responsible for sunburns and cause nonmelanomas, the squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Though melanomas account for only 4 percent of skin cancers, they are responsible for nearly 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Melanomas usually begin as flat, quarter-inch-sized, mottled, light brown to black blemishes with irregular borders. These blemishes can then turn red, blue, or white; crust on the surface; or bleed. Most frequently seen on the upper back, torso, lower legs, head, and neck, they can occur anywhere on the body.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but you are at increased risk if you

–have a family history of skin cancer

–have many moles or large moles

–have naturally blond or red hair

–have blue or green eyes

–have had five or more sunburns

–have been overexposed to the sun early in life

–are Caucasian with fair skin

While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and kills more young women than any other type of cancer, it is also the most preventable.

The best defense against skin cancer is sun protection. Because the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage the cellular structure of the skin, the use of sun protection is important beginning at a young age and continuing throughout life. Whenever you are out in the sun, it’s a good idea to use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, and reapply it every two hours. If you can’t avoid being out and about in the hours of peak sunlight—ten a.m. until four p.m.—seek the shade whenever possible and wear a hat, visor, sunglasses, and other protective clothing during prolonged periods of sun exposure.

Since skin cancer has a 95 percent cure rate when detected early, by your late thirties you should have a skin physical every two years. This is particularly important if you are at greater risk for skin cancer. At a skin physical, a dermatologist will go over your entire body looking for atypical birthmarks, blemishes, and moles. This exam could save your life.

Skin cancers aside, chronic sun exposure also creates skin stains and premature wrinkling. Smoking, too, is bad for the skin. On the other hand, the aging of the skin can be slowed by a good diet. Certain foods, like salmon and the omega oils found in salmon, have been found to be extremely beneficial for skin health. On the other hand, while skin creams may reduce dryness, or improve excessive oiliness, they will not alter the overall health of the skin. Creams merely affect the superficial layer of the skin. Good skin health comes from within.

Summertime comes and it seems like everybody’s running out the door to get a healthy dose of vitamin D.  But we’re not the only ones coming out of hibernation.

With warmer temperatures come swarms and (worse) infestations of all kinds of creepy crawlies.  Check out the list below of the worst summer bugs and the health risks they pose:

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, like barbecues and beach trips, have become emblematic of summer.  These tiny blood-suckers like to hang out in humid areas or near standing pools of water, but they’re pretty common everywhere across the U.S.

They gained a fair amount of infamy a few years ago, when they were attributed with the spread of West Nile virus, but though those fears have long since died down, that doesn’t mean mosquitoes don’t still pose a threat.  Besides the irritating, itchy marks their bites leave on your skin, mosquitoes can also carry and transmit a variety of diseases including malaria and Dengue Fever.

Minimize your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes by avoiding still water, wearing long sleeves when possible, and using mosquito repellant products.

Bees

While mosquitoes are generally considered the most common summer bug, bees are definitely the most feared – and with good reason.  Accidentally knock down a nest, and you could have an angry swarm on your tail.  Bees stings are no joke.  For those that are allergic, it only takes one to go into anaphylactic shock.  For those who aren’t, 8.6 stings per pound of body weight is considered toxic and may result in death.  The risk is minimal for adults, but considerably larger for children.

In less serious cases – i.e. you’re only stung by one bee and you aren’t allergic – it’s important to get the stinger out of your skin as soon as possible to reduce the severity and amount of venom released into the surrounding area.  Studies show it doesn’t matter whether you pinch or scratch it out – just get it out.  Afterwards, wash the wound and treat with a cold compact to alleviate pain.  Using antihistamine or other products that contain a skin coolant may also help.

If the symptoms appear severe, or if the sting occurs on the neck or mouth, seek medical attention immediately.  Swelling in these areas could cause suffocation.

Termites

Termites tend to burrow in underground nests in the winter, but come summer, they resurface in droves.  While the bugs pose little threat to human health, they can do a lot of damage to houses – thousands of dollars worth of damage, to be precise.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that the ensuing stress and anxiety can be severely detrimental to your health.

If you suspect your house has termites, call someone to survey as soon as possible.  For the sake of your own mental health, if nothing else.

Bedbugs

We made it through the massive bedbug infestation of summer 2010, but some experts claim it may get even worse in 2011.  Here’s hoping that prediction doesn’t come true.

Bedbugs can live in your bed, furniture and clothes and leave itchy, painful bites on your skin.  A good way to tell if you have them is to check your sheets for blood spots.

There is usually no treatment for bedbugs but if the itching is especially severe, your doctor may prescribe steroid creams or oral antihistamines.

To get rid of bed bugs, there are a number of sprays on the market, but you’re best bet is to call a pest control expert.

When faced with any sort of unstructured time, children are likely to get bored. They are also likely to let you know about it often! Summer is meant to be a time for rest and relaxation but also for exploring and education outside of the classroom. Here are some ideas for keeping your kids happily engaged this summer.

*Have a scavenger hunt in the house on a rainy day. Vary the clues depending on your children’s age. For younger children, use clues such as “Go to the room where you take a bath,” or “Go to the room with the blue walls.” For older children, use clues such as “This is the room where Dad watched the baseball game last night,” or “Find the room where Mom likes to read quietly.” The prize can be a gift certificate to a local bookstore or a new game the family can play together. Make sure everyone gets a prize or that it’s a team effort and everyone works together to find the prize. If not, you’ll be hearing “Not fair!” instead of “I’m bored!”

*Have a backyard camp out! Bring sleeping bags, tents, and build a fire. If you don’t have camping equipment, lay out an old sheet or blanket to sit on. Instead of telling ghost stories, have each family member tell a story about their favorite thing about your family. Don’t pressure your children to sleep outside, as they may be nervous or uncomfortable. Staying up late and having some special snacks is plenty fun! Just remember to use bug repellent so you don’t wake up with itchy campers in the morning!

*Use an old shoebox and create a special art box. Store all sorts of “extras” inside: buttons, scraps of paper, ribbon, washable markers and glue. Allow your children to create their own masterpiece on a piece of construction paper using all the materials inside the box. Make sure the items in the box are things your child can use independently. This way, your children can sit at the table and work while you make dinner or throw in a load of laundry. You can also use old magazines and cut out pictures to tell a story or re-create a family event.

These are just a few fun things you can do with your family this summer. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try something new. You can always have a family meeting afterward to discuss the pros and cons of your new, adventurous outing. The important thing to remember is relax and enjoy time together as a family, regardless of what you are doing.