Ann Rownd, age 11, of Sarasota, Fla., for her question:

IS IT GOOD TO GET A TAN?

Your skin is actually the largest organ of your body. It is also that part of you which is most visible to the people you meet every day. Most doctors agree it is vital that we protect our skin. We should be sure that we don't overexpose it to the sun and we must make sure that the skinis always kept clean.

Now that the warm sun has moved in for a long summer's stay and fun in the sun is the order of the day, it is important that your skin receive extra protection.

Many people mistakenly believe that a deep, dark tan is good for the skin. Most doctors say the exact opposite is true. While sunlight hitting your skin is one way the body is stimulated to produce vitamin D, it is found that the average diet supplies an adequate amount with no need for overexposure.

Limited time in the sun is fine. Too much time spent working on your tan is bad.

Damaging and destructive effects of sunlight, especially from the visible ultraviolet rays, are numerous. The sun can produce premature wrinkling, leathery texture, spots of hyperpigmentation and loss of elasticity.

Too much sun can also cause precancerous lesions. More than 90 percent of all skin cancers, as a matter of fact, appear on the light exposed areas of the body. Also, the incidence of skin cancer is highest among those persons who spend the most time in the sun, such as farmers, outdoorsmen and sailors.

Problems associated with trying to obtain too much tan are usually faced by people whose skin contains the least amount of pigment. Fair skinned redheads or blonds have many more problems than do the brunettes with darker¬colored skin.

Use common sense when you stretch out on a towel at the beach. Use lotion or sunblocking agents that have chemical sunscreens. Or use zinc oxide. After exposure, be sure the skin is well lubricated with an emollient cream or lotion to help counteract the excessive dryness produced by the sun.

Skin should also be protected from hot, dry winds during the summer. They can cause loss of moisture from the skin and produce chapping, scaling, cracking and even more severe problems. Lubricating creams, lotions and special oils are helpful for this purpose. Lip balm is also recommended by many doctors.