Enjoy the Beach While Protecting your Skin!

I used to love laying out in the sun and getting a tan. As I have gotten older, I have noticed a collection of fashionably in freckles forming on the bridge of my nose and cheeks. When I was younger, I did not care much about skin damage. I just wanted that glowing tan. There were only a few months out of the entire year that it was possible for me, so I got as much beach time in as I could. 

Once I passed my mid-twenties and moved to Florida, where it is always sunny and warm, that changed. I realized that the freckles I was getting were not a fashion statement. They were a sign of the skin damage from all my years of sun exposure. For the first time in my life, I bought a rash guard (a waterproof long-sleeve shirt with a 50+ SPF protection). I switched from tanning oil to 30+ SPF sunscreen. Although, I have not adapted wearing it daily which nearly all dermatologists recommend. 

The truth is, there is no safe way to tan, unless you are using a spray or fake tanner. Every time we tan, our skin is injured. This varies based on our skin color and how susceptive we are. We damage our skin before we burn. 

This doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the beach; it just means its best to think about our overall health. Is a temporary tan worth the risk? Not only of skin cancer, but premature aging (wrinkles and more).

John Hopkins Medicine offers great ways we can enjoy the beach, while protecting our skin. 

1. Wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours and after sweating or swimming. 

2. Wear protective clothing! Hats, sunglasses, and that rash guard I mentioned earlier.

3. Watch out for the sand and water, the sun's rays can reflect off of these and increase your chances of getting burned.

4. Seek shade or bring a beach umbrella. The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Avoid laying directly in the sun during those hours.  

5. Use lip balm with 15+ SPF. 

Avoid tanning beds at all costs. If you're like me and are used to just throwing yourself and a towel down in the sand, it takes some time to get used to these extra steps. Soon enough it will become part of your normal beach routine and down the road, your skin will thank you.