At my age I should know better that even on the days that are coolish and a mix of sun and clouds, the sun in June, July, and August wins against fair skin. Great conditions for wild flowers but not so much on human skin. I mentioned I left late afternoon as much as for quiet but also to be able to feel a bit more comfortable after my ignorance of not applying enough sun screen and not wearing a hat and sun glasses most of the day. This post is to remind me for next time of my dumb forgetfulness and what I did to get some relief.
As I mentioned the temperature was coolish, and judging by my nephew (though I have quite a bit more natural body insulation than he has) the water and air was downright cold. I perhaps should have put my suit on and taken a dip in the lake before heading home and that would have provided relief, but then I would have been in yet more sun. Instead, at home it was a quick coolish shower and the lightest of oversized t-shirt and pajama shorts I could find. The rest of the night I sipped ice water and periodically put a cool rag on my face. I had some aloe vera lotion that helped a bit as well By yesterday it was better-the first 12 hours or so are worst for me. Rehydrating after a sun burn is essential for me. I'm not in the medical profession so this is what helped me, but you may have been given other advice. Even Monday morning after my coolish shower, my arms and face feel a bit warm. I have that nice sandal line burn on my feet too!
For those of a certain age, remember the tale we used to tell ourselves that a sun burn will fade to a nice tan? I was never a huge sun worshipper for tanning prospects, but just by being outside for full days, working, on the softball field, hanging with friends-mostly with not nearly enough sun screen, I suppose I bought into that line as well. We know now that all this too much sun, even tanning, is actually damaging our skin, and worse, potentially leading to skin cancer. My dad in his last few years had a few cancerous spots removed on his face, but fortunately without spreading. He lived outdoors from sun-up to sun down pretty much year round, a hazard of all his collective jobs. However, he always had a hat with a big brim, pants, and often a long sleeve light weight shirt which protected his arms from sun and scrapes of farm and construction work.
Still with his precautions, he was no immune and neither am I so it makes my forgetfulness reckless.We have another week of perfect and then steamy weather, likely then sprinkedl with some storminess. At some point I need to ge tto the store and top of my list is additional bottles of both sunscreen and lotion.
I most often get burned at the coast, where it's often very cool & cloudy. When it's hot & sunny, I almost always remember the sunblock. It's the cooler days that I forget.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better!
It's that sneaky sun that gets me every time!
DeleteYikes! I hate getting sunburned, but I forget sunscreen on occasion too, especially if it is cool.
ReplyDeleteI just didn't use enough or high enough SPF, and didn't reapply. I feel OK today.
DeleteQuite agree too much sun but this will be true for the next 4 months. Ironically many here have Vitamin D deficiencies as no one goes out in the sun.
ReplyDeleteI a in the Vitamin D deficient camp. Take my supplment every day.
DeleteNope sunburn never turns to a nice tan does it! If you don't have the skin for it it just isn't worth it! I remember a fair-haired Scottish friend of mine had just come back from holiday and I told him he looked tanned. He said "no, I just look less blue", and he was right!
ReplyDeleteI will get a slighlty golder look by summers end, but not a real tan. too much Scandinavian blood.
DeleteWe use the green aloe goup (not the brand name but you know the stuff) and it works great. Also works on minor skin irritations and rashes so is part of our first aid kit now. I am like you, fair as fair can be. That is one of the major reasons we invested in a large movable patio umbrella this year. Hubby can sit in the sun and I can sit in the shade like I prefer
ReplyDeleteWe love that we have shade on either the deck or porch at all times, so even though we have an umbrella, I don't bother with it much. It makes for nice outdoor reading when not sweltering.
DeleteWe all have to do that every once in a while.
ReplyDeleteAt my age I shoudlnow better. Here my MIL looks all nice and she avoids he sun, and I baked like a loster.
DeleteI rarely burn, just turn to tan. When I was a baby, mama said after a 20 minute walk, I would be brown. However, when my siblings came along, they would turn red and I would not. Only a few times did I burn and that was when I was an older teen determined to sun bathe. My father's seven brothers started dying from skin cancer untended. So, I avoid the sun like a plague.
ReplyDeleteI have two siblings that got my dad's darker complexion, and tanned easily. The rest take aftr our mom.
DeleteI wear a hat even in the swimming pool as I don't like to get sunburned. It's easy to forget to wear sunscreen though, as sometimes you can get burned without thinking about it, like yard sales in our case.
ReplyDeleteA sunburned scalp is the worst.
DeleteWhen younger I used to tan beautifully without even trying. Now it seems as if I burn more than I tan.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I got sunburned toes one time when I was a vendor at an outdoor craft show. That hurt sooo bad. Now, I remember to get my feet in the shade of anything. Putting sunscreen on feet is just asking to look nasty.
ReplyDeleteYes-the feet can be so sensitive. I have lines from my sandals.
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