The Lemon Lifestyle - Sun Safety

As summer approaches, it was very important for me to write an article about sun safety. Sun safety and protecting your skin are topics that are very important to me. It took too many sunburns for me to realize that my skin was very sensitive to the sun, and I wish I had been more proactive about sun care earlier on. However, since we cannot go back, it is important to learn about how to protect our skin, and to do our best moving forward.

I wanted to put together this list of some of the skincare advice I have received from dermatologists, and some of the conventional wisdom when it comes to sun protection. This list is absolutely not complete, these are just a few of the basic things that can help get you started.

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist or a skincare professional. The advice in this article is what I have learned from years of researching how to best protect my own skin. I wrote this article in the hopes that it can raise awareness of the need to protect and care for one’s skin. This is the advice that I have received and that I incorporate into my own skincare routine, but this should just be used for informative purposes. Speak to your dermatologist about sun protection that will be appropriate for your skin and lifestyle.

Always wear sunscreen

This is of course, tip number one. Many people may think to put on sunscreen when they are on vacation, but the reality is our skin is vulnerable to sun damage every day. Whenever we are exposed to the sun, damage is being done on a cellular level, which while it may not always have the immediate consequence of a sunburn, will begin to show later on in the form of wrinkles, age spots, and potentially skin cancer.

So yes, you really do need to be wearing sunscreen every day. You may need to try a few kinds to find what works best for your skin. Make sure you are choosing a broad spectrum sunscreen, which means that it works to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. It is recommended to use at least SPF 15. I personally wear at least SPF 30 in the winter, and switch to SPF 50 in the summer.

I put on sunscreen every day, even if I am just in my house, because the sun comes in through the windows! I found a sunscreen that is good for my skin, so I just use it every morning in place of any other skincare. By finding a brand that works for me, I am able to make putting on sunscreen just a normal part of my daily routine.

You also need to be wearing sunscreen even if the sun is not shining. You need to be wearing sunscreen even on rainy days, and especially on snowy days, when the sun’s ray reflect off of the snow, making them even more powerful and damaging.

My sunscreen essentials at Mondello Beach, Sicily

It can be easy to just think about applying sunscreen on your face, but really every part of exposed skin should have SPF! Don’t forget about your ears, the back of your neck, and your hands! I like buying a lip balm from a sunscreen brand that has SPF in it as well so I am getting protection just by using my lip balm!

A few more things: You probably need to be using more sunscreen than you are. The sunscreen’s SPF is calculated based on a certain ratio. You can ask your dermatologist to demonstrate this, or look at some dermatologists who have made videos about this online. For example, you need at least two fingers’ worth of sunscreen just for your face!

Once you’ve put on sunscreen, you aren’t done for the day. As long as you continue to be in the sun, or go outside again later, you will need to be reapplying. Conventional wisdom says at least every two hours, or sooner after you have been swimming or sweating.

One thing that took me a while to get, but has been a game changer for me, is that you have to apply your sunscreen before you actually go in the sun, and certainly well before you go in the water. This is because the sunscreen needs time to actually absorb into your skin before it can actively protect you! Conventional wisdom says to apply 30 minutes before sun exposure.

In addition to sunscreen, you can also find SPF in clothing made specifically for people who would like extra protection. Many sun-protection brands have designed regular clothing like shirts and dresses that have SPF protection in them, as well as hiking jackets and long-sleeve swim-shirts and other items for swimming. Wearing a hat that covers your face, ears, and neck is especially useful. Also make sure when you are buying sunglasses that they offer broad spectrum protection as well.

I know, this may sound like a lot to remember. But once you make applying sunscreen a part of your daily routine, it will become second nature.

Sit in the shade and cover up

While sunscreen is an amazing invention, it can only go so far. For some people, especially people like me with very delicate skin, sometimes the answer is to stay out of the sun altogether.

Conventional wisdom says to limit or seek to avoid being out in the sun during the “peak hours,” generally between 10am to 4pm. You can also check the UV index of where you are to see how strong the sun is.

Sometimes, especially in certain locations and during the summer, I try to stay inside or in the shade. I have learned that my skin is just too sensitive to be in the sun, even if I am properly applying sunscreen. If I really do have to go out, I will wear a hat or try to cover up as much as I can, in addition to wearing sunscreen. In some places, I have even used an umbrella to shield myself from the powerful sun.

And please, please, please, don’t use tanning beds. They are incredibly harmful and damaging for your skin. If you would really like some color, try using self-tanning lotion, or sweep some bronzer on your cheeks when doing your make-up for a natural-looking glow.

Know your skin

For many years, I would look at other people on the beach. Laying out all day, they didn’t seem to be getting sunburnt. Friends would skip sunscreen or use tanning oil, so I thought I could too. Except I would end up with severe sunburns. It took me so long to realize that my skin could just not handle the sun. Now, I know my body. I know that I just can’t be out in the sun all day. I know that I can go out in the morning, or in the late afternoon. I know that I need to avoid peak hours, and to stay in the shade. I know that I need to wear a hat, or cover my shoulders.

Other people will not know your skin. They can only know how they handle the sun. You cannot look to others as an example. You need to know yourself, and to honor your skin and your body. You cannot change the skin you have been given, what is in your control is how you take care of it.

See a dermatologist

For most people, dermatologists will recommend an annual screening for suspicious moles and other skin conditions. Skin cancer is incredibly preventable and treatable if it is caught early, which is why these screenings are crucial. As we talked about knowing your skin before, keep an eye on your skin. If you see a new mark or that something is changing, make an appointment to have it checked out with your doctor. Speak up and advocate for yourself. And if you don’t feel as though your doctor is taking your concerns seriously, find another one.

Many doctors will recommend an annual screening, you may be asked to come in more often based on your personal or family history. And again, if anything seems new or is concerning you, make an appointment right away.

Don’t beat yourself up

You may be reading this and thinking back on all of the times when you didn’t wear sunscreen. You may be wondering how much sun damage you have. I know this feeling. If I could go back in time, there are many things I would have done differently. But we simply cannot. So instead of wasting that energy on regret about the past, why don’t we channel it into being proactive today. Start from today. Go buy that sunscreen. Make a plan for your vacation to spend peak hours out of the sun. Call your dermatologist and make the appointment for a skin cancer screening.

I know how it can feel to want to be tanner. I know how it can feel to want to lay out in the sun and feel the sunshine on my skin. It took me a long time to accept that that was just not going to happen for me. I am pale, and my skin is very sensitive. But I can still enjoy summer at the beach. I can still go swimming on vacation. It’s just that now I have the tools and awareness to protect my skin and do so safely. I now have peace with my skin.

Note: Header image is from Villa Bonanno, Palermo, Sicily