GET REAL: Summer Myths Uncovered
Summer babies, listen up! Or read up, I guess. I love summer but I hate summer sun damage. I'm from a long line of redheads so I know a bit about this crap. There are so many wives tales and conflicting stories when it comes to the sun and summertime that it’s hard to know what to believe. Let’s shed some much-needed summer sunlight on a few of these untruths.
RUMOR: Sunscreen must be applied directly to the skin.
Actually, it’s a good idea to put on a layer of lotion, especially where you have sensitive skin like your face, to keep the sunscreen from clogging your pores, and then put the sunblock on top of the lotion. That's what I do, my babies.
RUMOR: Going in and out of air-conditioning will make you sick.
Actually, temperature swings don’t make you more vulnerable to colds. There’s no evidence that getting chilled or overheated can lead to sickness (although it can increase asthma symptoms)—it’s even okay to go outside with wet hair in winter!
RUMOR: Dry skin causes wrinkles.
It would be awesome if you could just apply lotion to your face and avoid wrinkles, but wrinkles actually come from a collagen breakdown that happens below the skin’s surface. Boo.
RUMOR: Tanning booths are a safe alternative to direct sunlight.
Most tanning booths emit UVA rays that can cause deep dermal damage over time contributing to wrinkles and causing skin cancer. So either way, tan in moderation.
RUMOR: Sea water can help heal open wounds.
Do you know what lives in there? There are so many little animals and bacteria in the sea, not to mention kid pee, and all that can cause sores and fever. Sea salt water is good for healing, but not with all the other stuff that lives in the ocean.
RUMOR: If your moisturizer has SPF protection, that’s all you need.
Moisturizers with an SPF are great for daily use if you’ll just be walking between classes or out of the office for lunch. For longer sun exposure, you’ll need much more than your daily dose and need to re-apply every two hours.
RUMOR: If you have darker skin or tan easily, you’re not at risk for skin cancer.
Unfortunately this is a big fat lie, but so many people believe it! Skin cancer is all about cumulative sun exposure so if your skin is seeing too many rays, you’re at risk for skin cancer regardless of skin type or color.
What are some other summer myths that you’ve heard?
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Photo Sources: goodfon.com, tanningbooths.com, flickriver.com, skincar-e.com
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11 comments
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The tip about lotion under sunscreen is great, and I never thought of it. We live 10 mins from a waterpark and my pale freckled self spends a lot of time there in the triple digit heat. I haven't burned yet, but this is a good defense in my tool box.
I think that the going in and out of ac can give you colds but not because of temperature change but because the increase in recirculating air (as opposed to when the ac isn't on) is putting more icky germs from other peoples colds into the air. I work in a pharmacy and live for hand sanitizer and vitamin c year round! -
My sister and I are both really pale and burn really easily, and living in Australia doesn't really help. We actually have to use invisible zinc instead of normal sunscreen. -
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About "to go outside with wet hair in winter", I don't think it's a good idea, especially when it is -30 degrees Celsius...)So such winter we have here in Ukraine:) -
Great tips, thank you!
@Cameron , I used to have blonde hair up until the age of 8, then it started to go dark. It turned back to blonde during summers for a couple of years. Now it's mostly dark and I can barely see a difference during summers. I guess it kind of depends on the hair type, how long the exposure to the sun is, things like that. -
The myth that you shouldn't go swimming for an hour after eating, so not true. There has never been a case where someone has drowned because they went swimming on a full stomach. -
Thank you. A bit more on the ocean... Near shore the biggest infection threat is from the bacteria that wash down rivers into the ocean and are carried buy the long shore current. These bacteria come from infected animals up river and are the same thing that can make you sick if you drink untreated water from a stream. Among surfers there are a whole litany of common medical problems that are the cost of playing in the ocean near shore. -
I'm a red head but my skin actually tans pretty easily... These are definitely some tips to live by though... Sunscreen is your friend!!
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These are some great tips, thanks Elizabeth! Cameron - the sun can sometimes make your natural hair color a lighter shade.. or if you already have highlights the sun can also lighten those. But often if you have dark hair you will not see a change
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I've heard sun or uv rays can make your hair more blonde or bring out natural hilights. If this is true, then why is my hair still dark brown?
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