The sun never kisses me—it slaps me, holds me hostage for days.
It forces me to endure excruciating burns with high fever and low energy. It gives me the chills. It poisons me, literally. The hardest lesson of all—courtesy of the Florida fun and sun. After years of debilitating sunburns and futile tanning attempts, I’ve finally accepted my role as a fair lady of the universe. No longer striving to be a sun goddess. Along this fiery path I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge on sun exposure dos and don’ts. And most importantly, I abide by and share the wise words of Buz Luhrmann . . . “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. ”
- Even when it’s cloudy, you can burn. Use the sunscreen and reapply regularly
- Your scalp will burn just as easily as your body. And the peeling and flaking is beyond unattractive. If you know you’ll be spending a day at the beach or a long stretch of time in the sun, wear a hat. If you worry about hat hair, you can try powdered sunscreen, like Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45.
- Avoid direct sun during peak hours – 10am and 4pm. After the crowds have hit the local oyster bar, the beach becomes yours and the sun’s fierceness diminishes.
- Certain medications can intensify the sun’s rays. If you are on prescription medication, make sure to ask the pharmacist about sun exposure and any possible known reactions.
- Protect your lips. Wear sunscreen lip balm and reapply throughout the day.
If you’ve had to learn the hard way, like me, you can find helpful information regarding sunburn treatment at the Mayo Clinic and tips for dealing with a sunburned scalp from Livestrong.com.
But trust me on the sunscreen . . .
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