Every August since 1993, my small family has shared a house on the beach in North Carolina. It’s only for 1 week but it is a wonderful week of boogey boarding, books and board games.
It is also one of the hotter months of the year, a time when the sun beats down on hot sand and warm ocean water, a time when sunburns and skin damage can really take their toll.
I have always loved my time in the sun; I was a beach bunny as a 20 something. Today, I still ride the waves with my grandchildren and walk the beach with my daughter and husband. I garden. I ride horses. I play Kan Jam.
But all that time in the sun came with a price which I am paying right now. I was diagnosed with skin cancer – melanoma – in January of this year. I spent Valentine’s Day under a surgeon’s knife having a large portion of my left hip removed due to melanoma.
I’ll admit that this experience has made me a bit crazy about sunscreen, finding the right one, finding one I can afford and using it properly.
I’m not the only one who is confused by manufacturers’ claims about the sunscreens they sell. But Earth Easy has cut through all the noise to share a short, clearly written article about what products work best and why. 4 Tips for Safe, Effective Sunscreen Use | Eartheasy Blog.
I found two products on Amazon that work for me – Elta MD Skincare makes both; both are broad spectrum and both are free of the chemicals Earth Easy warns against. The general sunscreen is a “sport” sunscreen meaning it doesn’t sweat off into your eyes or mouth.
Enjoy the dog days of August, play in the surf and loll on the sand but make sure you read up and buy the right sunscreen for you and for your family.
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