Fact: I have extremely fair skin. So fair and so sensitive in fact that I can hardly wear any make up or I have allergic reactions and so fair that if I step out into the sun for 15 minutes, I will come home with a sunburn. I have also got sun poisoning plenty of times in my life. It’s no fun. Although my husband naturally tans SO nicely (Yes, I’m jealous) my son takes after me and also has very fair skin. Those of us with fair skin have to be extremely careful and cautious while we’re out in the sun.
So much information is coming out about sun protection and skin cancer and it’s scary. Did you know that you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen every two hours? So that means if you’re going to be out in the sun all day- once is NOT enough. You need to bring the sunscreen with you and keep on applying it.
My mom always talks about how when she was a teenager sunscreen consisted of- SPF 2 or SPF 5. So basically- do you want to lay out in oil or do you want to bake in oil? Now that we have all this knowledge, we need to use it. Don’t lay out all day. Don’t go to tanning beds. Be safe and be careful, this is your skin we’re talking about!
Here are some tips on protecting your fair skin (or any skin for that matter) in the summer heat.
– Wear sunscreen.
Choose a GOOD name brand sunscreen with a high SPF.
– Spray on sunscreens made for kids have been a lifesaver for my family.
They are much easier and faster to use on my wiggly son!
– Reapply, reapply, reapply!
Sunscreen needs to be put on every two hours.
-Hats are your new best friends.
Hats are really trendy right now and they are so fashionable! I actually just bought my first summer hat at Free People and I have worn it every day since. Not only can a hat be a fashion statement piece, it protects your face from the sun!
– Make sure your children wear swim shirts and hats.
Don’t just put your little ones in swim trunks. It’s a good idea to put them in swim shirts and swim hats to properly cover them from the sun.
-Stay out of the sun whenever possible.
Limit your sun intake. While getting that Vitamin D is important, too much is not a good thing. Especially for those of us with fair skin. Don’t stay out directly in the sun for too long.
-Bring an umbrella. If you’re not a hat person, try an umbrella.
They aren’t just for the rain anymore.
Protecting your fair skin and your children’s fair skin is SO important. I can’t stress that enough. Skin cancer happens far too often- don’t let it happen to you. Sunburns are no fun and aren’t good for you. Laying out directly in the sun is not good for your skin. Be good to your skin, be cautious! It’s the only skin you’re ever going to get!
