Summer is coming, which means beach trips, barbeque parties, and any other activity that can be done outside. As a college student, I’ve noticed I seem to be the only one concerned with any sort of sun protection. I deal with sensitive skin that burns easily, so I find myself being forced to skip out on activities out of fear of getting sunburned. In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness month, let’s explore some ways of getting my friends to see why protecting their skin from the sun is SO important. A great tip is to use a UV Exposure app to see how intense the sun is that day. Tracking the UV can help you prepare for how to protect yourself. You can make sun protection fun! If you see the UV is up, throw on that cute hat you ordered and forgot you owned! A lot of hats now even come with built-in UV protection. I hate being the odd one out trying to sit in the shade while all my friends have fun in the sun, but now I have a cute way to stay safe. I am the queen of bringing all the sunscreen and snacks to pool days with my friends… actually, I am the only one who does that. If it weren’t for me bringing sunscreen, none of them would apply it in the first place! I also coerce all of them into reapplying their sunscreen by showing them the cupcakes I brought and requiring a re-application before they get to receive one!
I recently found one of the best-kept tips that was kept from me was after-care! After-sun care can take two forms: either keeping the skin healthy and ready for its next outdoor adventure or repairing sun-damaged skin. For maintaining healthy, sun-ready skin, the DCL Ultra Comfort Cleanser is a great option to help ease any inflammation from the sun. If you are suffering from a sunburn and the drugstore aloe-vera isn’t doing enough to soothe your skin, use the Eraclea Hylacare® Recovery Gel! It not only will soothe and hydrate the irritated skin but will help prevent further overall damage. Another tip I wish I had known sooner is that even though you should always keep SPF on you, you shouldn’t leave it in your car! Leaving sunscreen in an unconditioned space for long periods of time can actually affect the effectiveness of the sunscreen over time.
I was surprised to learn that I seem to be the only young adult I know who LIKES is going to the doctor. My friends avoid it like not going makes the problem not real, while I love going anytime, something might possibly be wrong. Most of my friends don’t even have a dermatologist. Having a trusted dermatologist who can give you a better understanding of your skin and how to take care of it is the key to your skin-care journey. When you have a dermatologist who is already familiar with you and your skin, they will also be able to notice any changes or irregularities you may not see yourself. Routinely visiting a dermatologist just like your primary physician is the best way to prevent and detect early any indications of skin cancer.
1 in 5 people will have some form of skin cancer before the age of 70, so we must do everything we can to keep ourselves out of the statistic! Remember to apply SPF every day and find ways to trick your friends into either wearing sunscreen and going to the dermatologist. What is your best-kept suncare secret you wish you knew before? Please write it below because I really need more tips.
For more skincare advice, tips and product reviews follow us on Instagram.