--- Lena Lam
Dude, that’s one funky mole you got there. It’s all blue and looks like Voldemort’s face!
…seriously? Huh. That wasn’t there before…
(Ten years earlier.)
Dude, your skin’s peeling again.
Don’t worry about it. It’ll go away after a day or so.
(Two years earlier.)
Dude, that is one sick sunburn.
Yeah, I forgot to put on sunscreen. Oh well. It’s not that bad.
It is amazing what a simple act such as applying sunscreen daily can do for your skin. It is also amazing how forgetting to do such a simple act can lead to such serious consequences (i.e. skin cancer). Summer won’t officially start for another month or so, but it’s warm enough now that people are starting to get tans. Most people think that once summer season comes around, it is time to buy some sunscreen, but did you know that you should wear sunscreen year-round?
The sun’s rays consist of UVA and UVB rays, which lead to various types of skin problems after prolonged exposure. And I’m not just talking about increased probability of getting skin cancer; “skin problems” could start with something as seemingly normal as wrinkles. It’s when you start getting premature wrinkles that you finally suspect that something is wrong.
So, why should you wear sunscreen year-round, but especially in the summer? UVA and UVB rays are present year-round, and UVB rays are strongest in the summer. However, UVA rays are not only present year-round, but they’re also more damaging to your skin cells because even though it takes longer for the damage to show, the rays go deeper into your skin. So, make sure to get sunscreen that will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. (Side note: you should also make sure your sunglasses have both UVA and UVB protection.)
If you’re supposed to use sunscreen year-round, does that mean you use the same one all year? Not necessarily. Not only is everyone’s skin unique (i.e. combination skin versus dry/sensitive skin versus oily/acne-prone skin), but it also changes from season to season. For example, in the winter, your skin might need thicker creams and lotions, but in the summer, it needs lighter products because you’re more active. (For further information about choosing a skin regimen for your specific skin type, refer to the helpful article at this link: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/match-your-summer-skin-care-regimen-to-your-skin-type-1425445 .)
For the summer, I would recommend using sunscreen with a slightly higher SPF than you would use in the winter just because you’re more likely to spend most of your day outdoors. But, wait, what’s SPF? And, why would the amount of hours you spend outdoors matter if there isn’t much sun in the winter? According to SkinCare.ca (http://www.skincare.ca/sunscreens_about.html), SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the “minimal ultraviolet dose required to produce redness with and without sunscreen.” In other words, it takes 30 minutes for your skin to become sunburned without any sunscreen, using a SPF 15 sunscreen will “hold off” that sunburn for 15 times longer. So, you would be sunburned after 7.5 hours instead of 30 minutes in the sun, assuming you apply the sunscreen correctly.
I’ve mentioned this before, but you should wear sunscreen even in the winter. Just because you can’t see the sun doesn’t mean its rays still can’t get to your skin. The UVA and UVB rays are still being reflected by the clouds and reaching your skin. One reason it might be okay to go out with lower SPF sunscreen is because most people spend their day indoors in the winter, reducing their exposure to the sun’s rays and therefore also reducing the amount of time they need to be protected from the sun. Additionally, the rays are reflected by water, too, so don’t go swimming thinking that you’re somehow immune to the sun’s rays because there’s some water separating you from the sun; sorry, but that’s not how it works.
Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you head out the door. Modern sunscreens are designed to begin working on contact, but it is best to give your skin some time to absorb it. If you’re sweating or swimming, reapply sunscreen once an hour. Where you apply it is important, too. Don’t only focus on your face either…unless you want to have a sun-damaged chest, neck, etc. in the future. Apply sunscreen everywhere (don’t forget to put it on your ears!), even on areas that you think are protected by clothing (t-shirts have a SPF of about 5, which is not going to do much for you). Wearing a hat will help a little, but just remember it’s not a magical hat with super powers; you should still use sunscreen.
If you have sensitive skin, don’t like the smell of sunscreen, or don’t like the icky feeling of most sunscreens, I personally like using Neutrogena’s Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. However, regardless of which kind of sunscreen you decide to use, use it well and wisely...to prevent the gradual appearance of your very own funky “mole” (a sign of skin cancer, by the way…) in the shape of Lord Voldemort's face.
Staying Fit with Summer Sports
--- Sarah Luo
Staying fit in the summer may seem pretty simple, but actually, it can be harder than staying fit during any other season. Some say that it’s hardest to stay fit during the winter because it’s so cold outside, you only want to stay inside and stay warm. However, for me personally, I find that going to a gym during the winter is a great way to warm up. This seemingly irrelevant factoid brings me to the actual point. During the summer, because it’s so hot, you’re already sweating, so you find it unnecessary to move even more because then it just becomes unbearable. This is why you don’t see people playing outdoor sports when it’s 90 degrees outside.
But there are some sports you could play to stay cool and still get fit even during the hottest hours of the day. So during the cooler days of the summer, I would suggest playing sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, or football. Those sports tend to make you move more so you sweat more. The cooler the weather, the more comfortable it is to play these sports. Perhaps in weather from about 60 to 75 degrees, you can play these sports without any real discomfort. Don’t forget to put on suncreen though (read Lena’s article on sun protection!).
During the hotter hours of the day or the hottest days of the summer where the temperature ranges from maybe 80 to 100 degrees, you will want to engage in more water sports. Swimming, diving, scuba diving, sailing, wakeboarding, surfing, etc. Those kinds of sports are definitely the most comfortable during those really hot days. The second you get into the water, you won’t feel hot at all, trust me. Personally, swimming is the most convenient and fun way to not only cool off but also get a workout. However, I’ve heard that wakeboarding is very good for both your biceps and abs, so I would recommend giving that a try if you have the opportunity. Additionally, surfing and scuba diving are also great ways to work muscles that you are rarely able to work on a daily basis.
If you’re on a beach for vacation, you must play some beach volleyball! That’s the best sport to play on the beach, besides building sand castles of course. You can not only get a killer tan, but you also get to run around in the sand and work some of your arm muscles. Golf is also a great sport to play during the summer because you don’t move around quite as much as the other sports, but you can still break a sweat. Watch out for that epic sock and golfer’s tan though!
All in all, summer is the time to go out for some summer sports. Don’t get stuck inside a gym where it just smells like gym equipment and sweat all the time. You want to go out, enjoy the sun, and try some sports you would have never imagined trying in your lifetime! To get started on that, you should probably go with something relatively simple, like kayaking. Don’t underestimate kayaking though, that’s a pretty hard sport too.
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