Confessions of A Conflicted Sun Worshipper

The mere mention of summer makes me feel all warm and new-puppy happy. Don’t know why; summer here in Florida is not all that different from spring, or fall, or winter for that matter. Summer seems more a state of mind - the ever-present lure of white sandy beaches, colorful umbrellas (maybe sipping something frosty and just a tad spirited?), or nap-worthy lounge chairs by a turquoise swimming pool.

Never mind that I haven’t been to the beach in seven years. And the chlorine in the pool plays havoc with my naturally blonde hair. It’s the persistent dream of those lazy summer childhood drinking lemonade on the porch swing watching fireflies dance in the dark that lives in my memory and reappears every May as sure as freckles on a toddler’s nose.

Summer is here and I’m ready. Got my new beach chair (I told you the dream is persistent!), three bestsellers, a spray bottle of #843 sun blocker, guaranteed to prevent burns from anything less than a direct blow torch attack, and a gallon of aloe gel in case of a direct blow torch attack.

And that brings me to our love-hate relationship with the sun. We love it – crave its warmth, its life-giving properties, and without it we would not exist.

We also fear its ability to torch our skin, sear our eyes, burn our pates, and cause us future damage even beyond what is readily visible.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are fabulous spa-class products available that range in price from $6.99 in Target, to “That costs WHAT?” So, no excuses. Before you even think about planning that pool party, playing another round of golf, or taking a trip to the beach, check out some time-tested methods for beating the sun at its own game, plus some new tips and tricks for ‘saving face’ that you may not know.

Let’s face it . . .

Are you confused, conflicted or confounded by all the advice out there? Does the thought of baring lots of skin send you logging on to Amazon for some ‘lightweight long sleeved, high neck couture for the summer? Relax.

It’s time to rethink our relationship with the much-maligned sun. Sure, it’s a gaseous ball of fire hanging over our heads. And we’ve been told over and over again to avoid being in its company for more than brief unavoidable spurts lest we risk all kinds of devastating and horrid consequences. Threats mostly beginning with ‘C’.

But really, it isn’t going away, so shouldn’t we just learn to all get along? Can’t we appreciate the bright warmth and the lovely feeling of well-being we get in its presence? Do we have to sneak little trysts in secret, risking the ire of our loved ones, not to mention the harsh judgments of the medical community?

So, I have some good news to share. The sun is actually good for you. It provides Vitamin D, and we must have Vitamin D for calcium and strong bones, not to mention the other ‘C’ word: Covid. The sun gives us life. If you don’t believe me, just ask the dinosaurs what happens when the sun goes away.

Want more good news? 99.9% of skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which are superficial, and easily treatable.

The kind of skin cancer we all fear – melanoma - is actually prevented by, guess what? Sensible exposure to the sun. There’s a lot of new thinking that we have been over-reacting to the much-publicized fears about the sun. Turns out, we don’t get nearly enough Vitamin D. The problem is, researchers and scientists cannot seem to agree on how much exposure is enough and how much is too much. So fear not. Slather on some sunscreen (and 15 minutes or so a couple of times a week without sunscreen) and go have fun. If you use common sense and moderation, you can enjoy plenty of time outdoors this summer and be no worse for the wear. *

Been burned? Got trust issues?

You can get a UV free tan with the new spray tanning system. Here’s what happens. The spray contains DHA sugars that react naturally with the proteins in skin to create a natural looking tan. Highly recommended by film and television stars because it is both safe, convenient, and looks great. This method seems to be what many fair skinned and previously ‘untannables’ have been hotly pursuing.

Eye yi Eye . . .

Wait until you see what’s in store for you at the eyewear counter, just in time for summer!

A great pair of sunglasses is essential. Whether you wear prescription lens or not, protecting your eyes against dreaded ultraviolet rays, particularly mid-day, is critical to your long-term vision health.

Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause the early formation of cataracts, macular degeneration, and even skin cancers around the eyes. Enough said. On to the fun.

Big ‘movie star’ sunglasses are in, and the classic aviator style is flying off the racks thanks to Tom Cruise. If you haven’t shopped for sunglasses in a while, you have some excitement ahead. You will be amazed at the up, up, upscale eyewear available. We’re talking diamonds and precious jewels here (Cartier, Chrome Hearts, Kieselstein-Cord, Judith Leiber). All of the well-known designers (Gucci, Versace, Chanel, Prada, Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli) have put their distinctive logo and design aesthetic on eyewear. For sports enthusiasts, Tag Heuer is the ticket.

But whether you spend thousands (think cool as ice, as in diamonds), hundreds, or less (think cool as in Maui Jim or Oakley), be sure to get a great pair of sunglasses, and don’t skimp. It’s important and much more than a fashion statement.

According to Yvonne Schloss of Sunglass Express and Rx Optical, “The sky is the limit with eyewear. UV protection is a must, but polarized lenses are important too. They prevent glare and surface reflection and are great for anyone with water sports or waterside recreation in mind.”

You may elect to have a second pair of prescription sunglasses, or purchase clip-ons – both are available with UV protection and/or polarized. Transitions lenses are another popular choice, which change automatically when going in and out of the sun. (Don’t confuse them with a fashion tint, which are typically gradient and will have UV protection but will not be polarized.)

And if that doesn’t get you into the store, this should: Squinting in bright sunlight causes wrinkles. Did you pick up your car keys yet?

And Honey, don’t shrink-wrap the kids…

Summer is fraught with eye allergies and the ever-present danger of eye injury with all of the sports and outside activities (plus camps) that children are involved with.

No need to invest in a space helmet or welder’s headgear, but some commonsense purchases can go a long way toward protecting your child’s precious eyes.

According to Dr. Scott Silverman, a pediatric ophthalmologist with Manatee / Sarasota Eye Clinic, one of the simplest ways to protect your child’s eyes during outdoor and athletic activities is by wearing high-quality sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses and an ultra-violet protection coating. In addition to protecting the eyes from injury, young athletes will benefit from increased protection from airborne irritants and improved vision, thus perhaps avoiding the dreaded ball smack to the face!

Somewhat seriously now…

Get ready to learn a whole new vocabulary as you embark on your journey to find the best skin care products. Terms like kerolytics, oxidative stress, degenerative cellular damage, humectant are but a few. Makeup is no longer merely blush, lipstick, or foundation. It has transcended the realm of cosmetics, and become nutraceuticals, cosmoceuticals, elixirs, tonics and emollients.

Going way beyond tried-and-true vanilla and honey, you will now find products that contain oh so edible exotics such as Japanese mango, artic berries, grapefruit, almonds, green anise extracts and Fuji apple.

Makers have drawn upon the sea, the jungle, the garden, the prairie and Japanese culture. Product names are poetic and aesthetic. There is truly a product out there for any flaw or perceived flaw – no excuses accepted for not looking your best all summer. There are products that range from inexpensive to ultra costly. Some of them undoubtedly work very well. Many of them undoubtedly don’t work at all.

There are rose flavored gumballs that supposedly maintain breast firmness. Also, from Japan come revitalizing moisture strips for the eyes containing olive-leaf extract and a high-polymer gel. (Who, after all, wants to settle for a low-polymer gel? Not me.)

There are products to make your skin white. Products to make your skin tanned (or bronzed as it’s now called). Products to make your skin smooth, soft, sweet smelling, wrinkle free, acne free, blemish free, pouty mouthed, and glowing.

Women use an average of 19 face/skin care products, but only three are essential. In a moment you’ll know what they are.

Warning: They are appealing to our vulnerability. Careful they don’t suck you dry faster than the equatorial sun! Experts suggest starting on the low end of the scale and going up until you find something that works for you.

If all that fails to satisfy, there is now a plethora of medical procedures that involve needles, belt sanders, chemical peels, sutures, and suction. Considering a medical option? There are 40 things you can have treated with injectables now – 27 on the face and neck alone. That’s scary but true and a very popular treatment avenue for millions of men and women. These solutions are generally safe, yield fantastic results, but can be costly. Many who opt for medical solutions find that the career and lifestyle benefits far outweigh the cost and are worth every penny. One must just be braver than yours truly.

Do not be confused. Here’s the bottom line: All wrinkles are due in large part to loss of collagen. There I said it. There’s no going back now. You must either encourage your body to produce more collagen, help your body maintain its current level of collagen, or replace the collagen that’s been lost. The latter requiring the aforementioned bravery.

Natural beauty is but a carefully crafted illusion, after all. My grandpa always said, “Seeing is believing.” Grandpa would be amazed.

And who could forget the words of that brilliant philosopher, Miss Piggy. “Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes you have to give a stupid or uninformed beholder a black eye.”

Oh, those three essentials? A gentle non-soap cleanser, a daily moisturizer with Antioxidants and SPF, and a night cream with wrinkle smoothing retinol or peptides. That’s it. Everything else is purely for the joy of pampering and the pursuit of beauty.

Warm wishes for a beautiful summer wherever you are.