As long as Beauty Skeptic is an active website, I am going to post, and repost, about the dangers of not observing sun-safe behaviors. May is Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness month, and the first Monday in May (today!) is Melanoma Monday.
Last year, I was blown away by this beach that has sunscreen dispensers for public use.
You can learn more about my family’s experience with skin cancer in my 2015 post. So far, I’ve dodged a bullet but my dumbass did use tanning beds for a few different periods of my life prior to my mom’s discovery.
Keep yourself safe by:
- Limiting exposure during peak hours.
- It doesn’t take long! A half hour outside around noon caused my feet to develop tan lines in the shape of my flats. As an office worker, I typically do not apply sunscreen to the tops of my feet buuuut maybe I should.
- Wear a hat if you can swing it. Target has some inexpensive, cute ones; here’s a simple one.
- Use a good sunscreen. I’m far from the only one who touts Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence as the best.
- I did recently learn, though, that some folks with very sensitive skin tend to have issue with it due to the alcohols in it.
- Cover up if you can stand it.
Near Coral, Use Physical
Hawaii is on the cusp of banning sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are effective sunscreens, but have been found to contribute poor shape of the world’s coral. After application, it is washed away from skin in seawater, and later, washed away in a shower which results in waste water. If you live in or plan to visit regions closer to coral reefs, consider a physical, rather than chemical, sunscreen instead.
The Bottom Line
Stay sun safe, friends.