Beware...
Now that you're afraid of vampires or snakes lurking around the corner, I have an important topic to discuss that should scare the pants off you.
Sun Exposure.
It's summertime (or getting there) and my friend Heather already got a sunburn. Seeing I am the poster child for limiting sun exposure (I have lupus and am sun sensitive) I will educate you all on the evils of sunshine.
1) Sunscreen is GREAT, but realize that 45 SPF does not make you Superman or Superwoman. The 45 SPF means that it protects you 45 times over your sun tolerance limit. So if you sunburn in 1 minute, that 45 SPF will last you for 45 mins.
2) Reapplying Sunscreen is GREAT, but realize once you've hit your tolerance level in the SPF label, you have to go to a higher number to get protection. So if you're using 15 SPF, you can bump up to a 30 SPF, but you only get 15 times more protection. What that means is if you burn in one minute, apply 30 SPF after 15 minutes, you only get 15 more minutes in the sun. Sucks, doesn't it???
3) You can burn when it's overcast. The bad rays go through the clouds and attack like little rabid fleas. So you must protect yourself with sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
4) The sun's rays are strongest from 9am to 4pm, so you need more protection during those hours.
5) Sunlight can REFLECT off surfaces, like the ground, leaves, sand, etc. So if you put on a baseball cap and think you're good to go, think again. Go get the sunscreen.
6) You can sunburn THROUGH your clothes. A tee shirt has an SPF of 7. If you're sun sensitive, look for clothing that has SPF built into it. Try www.sunprecautions.com They have hats and stuff, too. The clothing is well-made and washable. It's expensive, but I've had my shirts and hats for years and they still look great.
7) Don't forget lips and other areas that get forgotten when applying sunscreen. Chapstick and Blistex make lip balm with SPF in it.
8) Visit a dermatologist if you have moles that have changed in size, shape or color.
9) Skin Cancer is a DEADLY disease. Once you get it, it can be fast-moving and take your life quickly. You can avoid this by simply applying sunscreen, using smarts when dealing with the sun, and checking your body for weird moles.
10) Sun exposure causes wrinkles, dark patches and all stuff you don't want when you age. Why not defeat it now by slopping on the sunscreen???
You have been warned. You can now return to your regular lives, wearing sunscreen, of course.
posted by TrishJ @ 8:09 AM
5 Comments:
Thank you for that public service announcement! Seriously, this is a good topic to review each year. I had a bad sunburn last year because I underestimated the sun's power down in the Carribean. I was in pain for a week and still have the lines. Reapply sunscreen LIBERALLY!!!
It's all about education here at dude, be it coochie toupees or sunscreen :::grin:::.
Trish
Oh Sun Avoidance Goddess, I have a question: at what temperature should I start to slather on the sunblock? On a cool day in the 60s? A warm day in the 70s? Being one who doesn't tan and rarely burns, I don't think about this as much as I should, so all guidance is greatly appreciated!
Oh Wise Athena,
If your skin is exposed, then you need to slather on the sunscreen. You can burn in the winter, too. In fact, I tend to get discoid lupus skin lesions more in the winter because the sun is closer to our side of the earth then, and the rays are actually stronger. Not hotter, but stronger.
I recommend a moisturizer with a sunscreen in it, like Oil of Olay. It's light but you have some coverage. Then you can do real sunscreen over it, if needed.
T
I learned this lesson the hard way last summer. I've never seriously sunburned in my life, but last summer we went to two rivers and the coast and the reflection of the sun off the water cooked me. Bleah!
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