Last weekend, it was absolutely gorgeous out. Sunny and warm. Perfect for a visit from cousins we’ve looked forward to all summer.
We were a party of six arriving to enjoy a Sunday breakfast on a golf course patio. The server was prepared for our reservation and had us all seated in a sunny spot.
Anyone who knows me knows I don’t sit in the sunshine. So, I have to be the one to say, hey guys, can we move over here to some shade, please? People are great about it. The cousins didn’t mind at all. Often, I’m not the only one who prefers the shade.
Sometimes that’s the end of it. But sometimes the restaurant has a gauzy umbrella that only filters the sunbeam. Or we’re there long enough for the sun to move and put me in its sights. A bunch of things can happen to eliminate shade.
You could dismiss it as me being fussy. But it’s more than that. I run hot. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me feel like I’m frying from the inside out.
I also blotch and quickly get dark spots that take years – I’m not exaggerating – to get rid of. Dermatologists don’t have a fast remedy for this yet. It takes months and months of diligence with expensive prescriptions to fade the sun’s imprint. I came home with a nose souvenir from our time in Italy So, I’m not playing games when I say I need the shade.
And Then There’s Sunscreen
I wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every single day. Rain or shine. Clouds or sun. Doesn’t matter. And I’ll tell you why.
First, I’ve made it a habit of applying suncreen every day so I won’t forget. Second, sunshine streams in through windows and permeates clouds. The sun’s damaging rays are still getting through on overcast days. And third, the weather can change in an instant.
Also, I reapply sunscreen every couple of hours if I’m outdoors, even while wearing a hat. Unless you’re affected like I am, you probably haven’t had to think about it in such detail. You move your head around. Sometimes the brim is covering your face, sometimes it’s not. Some women reapply their lipstick once in a while. I put on a fresh layer of sunscreen.
I rely on a couple of different brands. (This is not a paid endorsement!) Elta MD is tinted and serves as a backup for makeup when I don’t feel like applying a full face. Otherwise, I use Neutrogena or Ombrelle. They all get replaced once a year whether or not they’re empty. Sunscreen is one of those products that breaks down over time. The ingredients stop working together at around the two hour mark. The concoction itself lasts about a year. I’m not taking chances.
It’s Not Me, It’s the Sun
All of this probably seems like overkill to the average person. But some people have to make sure they eat every so often, not just when the group is ready to stop, or they get sick. Others avoid all sorts of additives and foods for health’s sake and might have to completely opt out of joining in on a meal. I’ve been fighting this battle with the sun for decades and learned best practices long before sun safety campaigns came out. So, I rub some stuff on my face every so often.
Please look kindly upon the oddball who’s applying sunscreen before heading back out under the great flashlight in the sky. We envy your normal, sun-enjoying self. I baked in the sun as a teen and didn’t wise up to my skin’s sensitivities until I was well into my twenties. There’s lost time to make up for.
I see you out there, laying on the beach or floating on your back in the pool without a care in the world. I’d love to join you. But it’s not worth looking like a Dalmatian until 2027.
I hope you enjoy the Labour/Labor Day Weekend and please, don’t forget the sunscreen!