Yeah, I know, I thought the same exact thing too when I sat down to write this piece but hey, the summertime is here and the majority of us are gonna be spending a lot of time outdoors at the various Pride events nationwide as well as traveling this summer, so in addition to packing our beach towels and sunglasses, let's not forget about packing our sunscreen either.
There are a million and one various skincare products out there to choose from but whichever ones you chose, please read the labels and make certain that the product(s) you are using have one or more of the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium oxide, Tinosorb, avobenzone or ecamsule. You've probaly already outfitted yourself with the kewlest summer outfits and shoes, so why not give your skin the best possible sun protection you can? And remember, wrinkles are not just a result of the natural aging process, more than 85% of them are caused by continual yearly sun damage to our skin, so if you wanna look great this summer, next summer and beyond, use your sunscreen.
How often you apply it is equally crucial. Apply at least 20 minutes before you go outside and then a 2nd time a half hour after you have been outside. After that you should be good to go for the rest of the day but remember to reapply whenever you come out of the water, take a shower, etc. And when it comes to SPF levels and protection from both UVB and UVA rays, it's best to use products that have at least an SPF 30+ rating.
As for sunglasses, try to buy the ones that have both UVB and UVA protection because it's equally important to protect your eyes while you're out-n-about in the summertime sun. Unless you have prescription-strength sunglasses, your best bet is to replace your sunglasses every year, which knowing how much some of us like to try on new sunglasses wherever we go, that shouldnt be a problem! Believe it or not, the most economical way to do this is simply go to Walgreen's or CVS, getta good pair for under $7, and then at the end of the summer discard and then go back the following spring and start all over again, because after all, just as with your skin, you wanna take as good care of your eyes as you possibly can.
Naturally, try to avoid getting sunburned as much as possible. If you're unsure how badly sunburned you are and if you're in a lot of pain then of course, contact your local doctor or dermatologist and get it checked out. But for those minor sunburns, a couple of pointers. First, do not use vinegar to treat your sunburned skin. I don't care how long this old-fashioned remedy has been in your family or how much you claim it works, never put vinegar on your sunburn because it has natural acids in it that can shock and damage the hell out of your skin, even worse than the sunburn itself, even without you feeling it. Yes, you can damage your skin cells without even knowing it. Second, don't use anything with menthol in it, such as Noxzema because it may feel good going on your skin but again, the menthol in certain skincare products can be more harmful than helpful to your skin. What you should put on your skin instead is either or both of the following - Aloe Vera Gel or Cocoa Butter lotion/cream.
Aloe Vera Gel is one of the most gentlest, non-pore clogging products you can use on your skin, both after a sunburn and really anytime of the year. It not only soothes and cools the skin but is one of the best all-natural ways to go. A little trick on how to use it - if you know you are gonna be outdoors most of the day, before you leave your home, put a bottle of it in your refridgerator and then when you come back home, God forbid you have any degree of sunburn, put some of that on it and the relief will blow your mind. It's good stuff, plain-n-simple.
Cocoa Butter products have got to be one of the best and most healing of all skincare products, not just for summertime use, but every day of the year use. When you get a minor sunburn and put Cocoa Butter lotion/cream on it, not only will it feel better but guess what? It not only shortens the duration of pain and actual redness but 8 times out of 10 your skin will turn a natural brown color and not even peel - no lie. There is some debate still that it can clog your skin's pores but if there is any validity to that it's very very minimal; but, as with any of my suggestions, the choice is yours.
Certain Melanomas can be fatal skin cancers so if you are a sun-bunny or have a family history of this disease, please do the responsible thing and get yourself tested annually by your dermatologist. I cannot stress that enough, even if your appointment happens to be during the summer or off-summer months, please get checked regularly for it because as with any disease both precautions and prevention can make all the difference in the world. It may even save your life.
In addition, for us Hiv'ers and for those who are battling cancer or any chronic disease, follow the suncare exposure guidelines your ID doctor, PCP and/or dermatologist recommends to you. This could make all the difference in the world when it comes to taking excellent care of yourself during the summer months. Remember, you must avoid sunlight when using certain medications so check with your medical care professional and/or pharmacist for questions regarding that.
And did you know that you can get sunburned even in the winter-time? Yes, the reflection of both UVA and UVB rays off of snow can give you a sunburn too! This is true for everyone but especially for cancer-survivors during the first 2 years after chemotherapy/radiation treatments. I didn't believe it either until it happened to me. That first summer I did great, avoided the sun as much as possible and still applied sunscreen just to be on the safe side; but, when one of my oncology nurses told me to wear it in the winter months too I thought she was whacked. Not so. On a day during that 1st winter I spent an hour sledding with my nieces & nephews and when I came in their house I looked like I had spent an hour on some sunny Miami beach!! No shit. So in all reality, not just from my experience, but mere common sense, it is safe and actually a good thing to wear sunscreen year-round if you are so inclined.
Not to sound like I'm pissin-n-moanin but due to my current situation I wont be spending much time outside this summer, but you can bet that every chance I get to sit out on the front stoop and get some fresh air and a bit of sunshine, that's where I will be; but, not without applying sunscreen first. Try to get into that habit as much as you can this summer and every summer; after all, shouldn't taking care of ourselves be a daily commitment regardless of the season? Thanks for reading and have a fun, safe summer everyone :)
Posted via email from HivSpice
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