Dear Red Hot Mamas- August 2021

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: August 17, 2021

Staying Young…Protecting Your Skin From the Sun

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

— William Shakespeare 

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

When I was young I used to start working on my tan in late spring. In those days it was pretty common that we would smear our bodies with baby oil which was a sun worshipping fad. I especially enjoyed this while laying out in the noonday sun.

At that time, I took my skin for granted and never thought about the affect the summer tan I was working on would have on my skin. Now, as I am quite a bit older and I do have some wrinkles. I really wish I had paid attention to my skin when I was in those teen years and through my twenties. Obviously I took it for granted that there would be no consequences between the sun and the aging process. Now that I am older, and far more wiser, I no longer bake in the sun. I am far more careful than before.

The number one cause of wrinkles is sun damage. It is not old age. The scorching sun can cause damage. It may cause wrinkles; tough, leathery and blotchy skin, as well as skin cancer.

It is important for take a few minutes each day to slather on some sunscreen.

Some red hot sun tips – Simple steps to protect yourself from the sun:

• Avoid exposure to the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm.
• Slop on sunscreen. Completely cover your skin with a thin layer of sunscreen. And, if you are going to have continual sun exposure, reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours. And, choose a waterproof sunscreen if you are in and out of the water.
• Look for makeup that has sunscreen in it.
• Slap on a hat. Many hats are effective at blocking sun from the head and face.
• Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.
• Slip on a shirt.
• Simply staying in the shade is one of the best ways to limit your UV exposure.
• Avoid tanning parlors or using sun lamps.

And, in closing, it is important for you to do a skin self-exam. If during your skin-self exam you see anything that concerns you, especially if something has appeared or has changed recently, be sure to have it checked by your doctor.

Good Health to You All,

Karen Giblin