So Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Yes I know that my favorite season starts in June, but when the beaches are open its pretty much summer. With Summer we know we will have extremely hot, humid, and hazy days (I dread these days), but we must make sure we are ALWAYS protected from the sun. We are supposed to wear sunblock all year round, but sun rays are most harmful during the summer.
Many African-Americans feel they do not need to protect their skin from the sun because of melanin. It is true we do have an advantage over people with fair skin, but with the depletion of the ozone layer the UVA and UVB rays are extremely harmful. So it does not matter how dark your skin is, you still need to be protected.
Remember to purchase sunblock rather than sunscreen. Sunblock protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays while sunscreen just protects you from UVA. With sunblock you get the most protection.
Also do not use SPF (Sun Protection Factor) less than 30. Global Warming is serious! So back in the day SPF 15 was fine for some people but not today. I use SPF 60! The spf lets you know how long you can be in the sun before you start burning. So SPF 30 means 30 minutes before you start to burn and 60 means an hour. So you can determine how long you will be outdoors when purchasing your sunblock
If you want to get a summer glow, try using a self-tanner or even a bronzer to achieve that effect.
Apply the sunblock about 15-20 minutes prior to sun exposure. If you are a heavy perspirer, participate in outdoor activities, or a beach or pool goer, you should invest in waterproof or water resistant sunblock.
Remember to also wear a hat and sunglasses. You need to protect your head because it can get sunburned too and your eyes need to be protected to maintain your vision.
