Sizzle, sizzle, pop, hiss, sizzle, sputter, sizzle. No, unfortunately, that is not the sound of bacon frying…it’s the sound of unprotected skin exposed to the summer sun. Ouch!
We all know the mental and emotional boost received from spending time in the sun, and the sunshine has other healthful properties, including acting as a germicidal, healing certain skin conditions and helping the body synthesize vitamin D. But, our beautiful, heavenly golden globe also showers down very harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause premature aging of the skin (including sagging, wrinkling and age spotting) and worse, skin cancer. May 27 has been designated Sunscreen Protection Day, otherwise known as Don’t Fry Day, and protecting your skin from sun overexposure is actually serious business. Did you know that all tanning is a form of burning, even if it doesn’t hurt, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has declared there is no safe way to tan?
So, what to do? Since most of us want to be out in the world and not hiding in our homes away from windows, we have to take preventive steps to care for our skin. Fortunately, there is sunscreen! And loads of it. There are so many sunscreen products on the market, with varying Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) and ingredients, that it can be daunting to figure out which product to buy and how much and how often to apply it. Here is an informative guide — Sunscreen FAQs — created by the American Academy of Dermatology, which will aid you in answering those questions. I, personally, worry about what the long lists of chemicals (with difficult-to-pronounce names) found in some sunscreens are doing to me, even if the AAD claims there is no scientific evidence that the ingredients pose any human health hazard. If this concerns you, too, never fear, because there are natural sunscreens that are mineral-based (rather than chemical-based), and they are readily available for purchase.
Okay, true confession: as a teen I spent time in the sun, burning my skin, including burns that blistered and peeled — ugh! I don’t think we knew better back in the 1970s. It wasn’t until the 1980s that public education began in earnest to inform people of the dangers of sun overexposure. So, I got hip to protecting my skin and started using sunscreen, hats and clothing to cover up. Now, what I really wanted to do was wear a turn-of-the-century (20th century, that is) swimsuit. For women back in that day, this was essentially a dress with tights, and it was an incredibly effective skin cover-up. Sadly, it makes swimming rather difficult and lends itself more to wading in the water. And since I’d rather swim than wade outside in the summer, I’ve devised my own get-up that allows for more freedom of movement, with good results. I’ve resorted to wearing a one-piece swimsuit, a pair of swimming trunks that reach to my knees and a long-sleeved nylon shirt to top it off. Any exposed skin gets slathered with sunscreen. When I get out of the water, I grab my wide-brimmed, funky, farmer’s straw hat and put it on. My sisters would make fun of me for not being glamorous, but I’m beyond caring about that because my freckled, fair skin is continually crying out for mercy from the blaze of summer sun.
If you’re interested in applying crafty skills to protecting your skin, you have a few options. Making your own sun hat can be a fun and gratifying activity. (I made the above-mentioned hat out of braided raffia 15 years ago, it took me a week, and I’m still wearing it.) In “Hat Shop,” there are two neat patterns: one for a floppy, fabric sunhat and another for a sun visor. Or, you can try your crochet skills on this pattern for a wide-brimmed, casual-classy sunhat. You can also make your own coconut-shea sunscreen using a five-ingredient recipe found in “Homemade Beauty” — I’m looking forward to making and trying this myself.
Just a couple more things I’d like to mention. There is special sun-safe/sun-protective clothing available (shirts, pants, hats) that is very effective in shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. You can look around online for brands and shops that offer this attire. Also, since our eyes can also be damaged by sunlight (a risk factor in developing cataracts), investing in a pair of sunglasses that block UV rays is an important part of an overall “sunscreen” regimen.
Okay, I believe that covers what you need to know about protecting and preserving your skin from the sun. And, sorry folks, artificial tanning beds deliver the same kind of skin damage. So, if you think you are too pale or pasty looking, you can spare yourself the sun damage and resultant suffering — buy a bottle of self-tanning lotion and achieve the bronzed, carefree, summer vacation look that way. Wishing you a sun-safe summer!
