I could be the poster child for sun abuse and now I am here to tell you how to protect your skin from one of the most wonderful creations of our universe.. the sun! We all love the sun, right??? It makes us happy, gives us good vitamin D, it allows us to play in the great out doors and so much more! The sun has the power to control our very own emotions. Just think, without any sun for a while we could get very depressed!
At the very early age of 2, I have photos of myself at the pool and on the beach basking in those beautiful rays. I can remember one of the worst sunburns of my life when I was about 10. My mom would take my sister and I to our local community swimming pool in the summers, where I lived in the sun. In high school I taught swimming lessons and lifeguarded. My college years I lived in Florida in the summers and worked lifeguarding at the beachside hotel swimming pools. I never ever used sunscreen ( what was that ?) but I did use baby oil mixed with iodine, and used metallic reflectors, or we would would get on top of a metal roof and bake with our Hawaiian Tropic Deep Suntan Oil with no spf. Even with light skin, I always had a great tan!! Yes, we need the sun, but we have to be smart when we play in the sun.
I know that most of you can relate what I am about to share with you or you have heard your mother preach to you. I was like a piece of fair meat coated with oil and tossed in the pan to cook. I would flip over and cook some more until the desired temperature. Usually I was well done which is so not the way I like a good steak. Disgusting… right… well the story just keeps going on.
I quit the sun on my face at 25 years old, but I kept sun tanning my body until I was about 36. I love to be brown as a bear but I don’t love the sunspots, scaly skin, uneven pigmentation and PRE MELANOMA that I am fighting because of all the years in the sun. Yes, I had a mole on my back removed about 8 years ago that was pre-melanoma. Do you know that Melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancer??? My dad and my husband had a Melanoma but got it all. We feel blessed!! I am NOT going to be a statistic…… are you? Go here for more statistics. Currently, I’m looking into anti-aging products from Forever Flawless as the sun doesn’t do much to retain a youthful appearance.
All of my story leads me to…. how to protect your skin from the sun without compromising your outdoor experience, so that you don’t have the higher risk of skin cancer.
- USE AT LEAST A 30SPF SUNSCREEN or better 50SPF every day on your hands, forearms, face, ears and any other area that gets exposure to the sun.
- Protect your face with a wide brimmed hat that covers your ears, neck and face when messing in your yard, by the pool at the beach, picnics, sporting events or wherever you will be in the sun.
- Don’t get in the sun in the most intense time of the day. Depending on time of year between 10am and 3pm.
- When in the sun wear clothing that has really good SPF protection. This cute striped scarf/wrap can be worn in several different ways.
- Wear sunglasses that have a uva or uvb value to protect your eyes.
- Of course find the biggest umbrella and sit under it, BUT remember to still use sunscreen!!!
Check out this cute tank dress and neck scarf or wrap that I am wearing from Your Summer Skin. This company was founded by a very young woman that got Melanoma at a very young age. She decided to design clothing that would protect her after finding out that there were not very many companies out there creating cute protective clothing pieces.
This wrap is great as protection for my shoulders and my head. Yes, my head!! The sun can damage your hair and scalp as well. I know none of us like to be forbidden from the great and powerful sun, but these are the facts my friends so take care of yourself. You can enjoy the sun using some of the great coverage that is available to us today!! Please check out Your Summer Skin for some clothing and accessories options to protect your skin when enjoying the great outdoors!!!
SHOP THE POST
50 SPF Dress by Your Summer Skin c/o | 50 SPF Scarf/wrap/tunic top by Your Summer Skin c/o | Hat | Sunglasses by Caroline Abram c/o similar here | Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers | White Tassel Earrings | Bracelet |
