Excuse the hippie-dippie language, but there’s something that I’ve got to tell you.
I’ve got sunshine in my bones.
It’s buried deep in there. Credit is no doubt due to my grandma Mimi, who grew up in the outbacks of Australia and needed the sunshine like she did water. My other grandma and her family was a huge fan of Lake Michigan, so credit is also due there — my childhood memories are filled with Midwest summers spent on the lake, where simply laying in the sunshine is absolutely considered something worthy to do for hours on end.
No matter where the credit lies, there’s no doubt that if you give me the sunshine, and ideally some water to enjoy it on, I’m HAPPYYYYY. (Sung to Pharrell’s tune, obvi.) We’re best friends and always will be.
But there’s this little BIG nuance about sunshine, no?
It’s, err, not great for you. Vitamin D is essential, yes, but the sun’s rays are proven to be harmful and absolutely something to protect yourself from.
My grandma who grew up in Australia? She ended up getting skin cancer multiple times later in life. Multiple family members of mine have struggled with pre-cancerous spots on their bodies due to sun exposure. Yours truly, who grew up soaking in the sunshine all summer? (Often without sunscreen, I’m not proud to admit.) I’m starting to see affects of sunshine on my skin. Even when I have sunscreen on, I seem to get more freckles on the daily. Unfortunately, I’ve even had to get questionable freckles removed recently.
The age-old saying is absolutely true of sunshine: It’s possible to have too much of a good thing.
So even though I’ve got sunshine in my bones, I know I need to be careful. Not just in terms of my own personal sun care, but that of my family as well.
Being a parent means you’re in the position of thinking/acting for yourself and your children, and I don’t want my girls to make the same mistakes that I unfortunately did. I’ve become hyper conscious about showcasing safety in the sunshine to them. Actively teaching them about how to be safe in the sun is something that I plan on instilling in their mentality constantly.
I want to protect them, and thus their skin, as much as possible. Which especially comes into play as we love to be outdoors and have adventures together as a family!
It’s pretty easy, right?! Rub in a little sunscreen and voila! We’ve got this!
Wrong. I’ve learned the hard way that while sunscreen alone is a vital first step, there’s way more to sun safety than that.
Did you know that there’s over 5 million cases of skin cancer treated in the U.S. every year, and that 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanomas are directly associated with repeat exposure to US radiation from the sun? It appears I’m not the only one who’s struggled with a learning curve on sun safety!
I believe the best way to protect yourself is to start with education. Which is why I’m so excited to partner with Priority Health to discuss some sun safety facts with you and also share how you can be involved with easily making a difference today!
Here Are 5 Essential Sun Safety Facts To Bookmark
- Ever wonder what intensity SPF to use? Experts say as long as you’re using at least SPF 30 and reapplying about every two hours, you will be protected. The difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 and higher is actually very minimal.
- You are still at risk for sunburn in the shade or on cloudy days. UV rays reflect off of surfaces like sand, water and even grass.
- You can’t see or free UV rays, so even if it’s cooler outside, you are still at risk for a sunburn.
- Any skin type and ethnicity is at risk for sunburn and skin cancer, especially over prolonged periods of time.
- Experts estimate that going out in the sun with a “base tan” is equivalent to wearing a sunscreen with a SPF of 3 to 4. This means you’re essentially not protected at all.
Kind of scary, right?! Don’t worry, I wouldn’t leave you with just that. Importantly, here are some (easy!) things you can do to help protect yourself, and your family, from the sun.
5 Ways To Best Protect Yourself + Your Family From The Sun
- Always use sunscreen – Even on cloudy days or in the winter, sunscreen is the best form of protection.
- Let it soak in – It’s important to note that sunscreen isn’t always effective all of the time. To be truly protected, you should put on sunscreen 30 minutes prior to being in the sun to allow it to soak into the skin.
- Reapply Often – A good rule of thumb is to reapply one ounce of sunscreen every two hours.
- Take Other Protective Measures – It’s also important to take other protective measures, such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat, UV sunglasses and tightly coven clothing in dark colors.
- Be Proactive – As a preventative measure, it’s a smart choice to see a dermatologist once a year for a professional skin exam. (This may be a covered benefit within your health plan – make sure to look into this!)
Share On Social Using #PriorityHealthSunSmart
Priority Health is making big waves in Michigan by helping to spread the word about sun safety. This summer, they’ve been promoting a big Sun Smart campaign to help empower people to make smart sun choices for themselves and for their families.
Here’s how you can help spread the word!
Post a photo of yourself being “sun smart” on social media. It can be anything from a photo of you putting on sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, to even a hat. For every photo posted using the hashtag #PriorityHealthSunSmart, Priority Health will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society. The money raised from the social media challenge will support cancer research, including initiatives specific to skin cancer.
You guys know this cause is so dear to me! I love supporting them not just because they’re an amazing organization, but also because my mom is the Executive Director of Michigan! Cancer is something that has touched many members of my family and I’m so grateful for the work that the ACS — and supporters like Priority Health – are doing. Participating in this campaign is something that we all can do to help make a difference — remember, no amount of effort is too little!
Oh! One other quick note!
If you’re in Michigan, be sure to check out where Priority Health is holding sun smart solution events! They’re handing out smart sun solutions, which include packets of sunscreen as well as sunburn alert UV stickers that change colors when it’s time to reapply. We used the UV stickers while at our recently trip to Lake Michigan and I found them very helpful!
So go ahead. Go outside. Jump in. Soak in those rays. Have fun. Embrace the sunshine in your own bones. Just make sure you’re being safe while doing so!
How are you practicing sun safety this summer? Did you learn anything new about sun safety from this post? Share in the comments below!
This post was sponsored by Priority Health, however as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that partner with Isn’t That Charming!
