The Sun
I love summertime. It's always been my favorite time of year. When I was a kid it was due to no school, warm weather, and having tons of fun with my friends all day long for three months. We would go to Grammy and Pappy's house for a couple weeks, we'd go to day camp, park and rec, and sometimes just hang out at home. We'd make daytrips to the beach, have SQUIRT time (Silent, Quiet, Independant Reading Time), make up our own games outside, and just play. Everything was completely carefree.
For as long as I can remember, I've always been sensitive to the sun. It's kind of a paradox. I absolutely love the beach and being outside in the warmth, and when I was a kid I'd just slather on the sunblock. I can remember getting a handful of sunburns, but really only one that was SO bad it stands out in my mind. I still slather on the sunblock. However, within the past few years I've noticed something. First, it was that I would just burn more quickly regardless of wearing sunblock, so I began reapplying more frequently. Then I began to notice that with certain sunblocks I would burn regardless of whether or not I had any sunblock on. So I upped my SPF and switched brands. Then, within the past two years, the worst part has happened. I'm down to one kind of sunblock that works for me. The directions state to reapply every 3-4 hours. I'm down to every hour.
The other part is that I no longer seem to get proper sunburns, but a rash. It's red, splotchy, itchy, and only shows up in the areas that get sun exposure... my nose, forehead, apples of my cheeks, lower arms, and the tops of my hands. This is far worse than any sunburn I've ever had, because while a sunburn is painful, it goes away after a day or two and a combination of advil and aloe will make it bearable. This is ridiculously itchy... like to the point where I want to rip my skin off. And it doesn't.go.away. If I get a mild case it'll last a week. If I get a worse case it lasts far longer.
Yesterday I spent about three hours in the sun. I put sunblock on several times. It was my special brand of sunblock that I can only ever find in one store. I slathered it on like usual. When leaving the party, I noticed that my skin felt tight on my face, but I didn't really think anything of it, as I didn't *look* that burned. Then today, the usual itchiness started. It's becoming unbearable.
I have a beach trip planned in August, but I will be the one completely covered up, sitting under an umbrella, reading my book. I will venture into the ocean a couple times, but I don't want to tempt fate and give myself another annoying rash.
I think my affair with the sun and summertime has ended. I still like the warmth and the sun, but I shall have to worship it from afar. It makes me sad, but like all things, this too must end.
For as long as I can remember, I've always been sensitive to the sun. It's kind of a paradox. I absolutely love the beach and being outside in the warmth, and when I was a kid I'd just slather on the sunblock. I can remember getting a handful of sunburns, but really only one that was SO bad it stands out in my mind. I still slather on the sunblock. However, within the past few years I've noticed something. First, it was that I would just burn more quickly regardless of wearing sunblock, so I began reapplying more frequently. Then I began to notice that with certain sunblocks I would burn regardless of whether or not I had any sunblock on. So I upped my SPF and switched brands. Then, within the past two years, the worst part has happened. I'm down to one kind of sunblock that works for me. The directions state to reapply every 3-4 hours. I'm down to every hour.
The other part is that I no longer seem to get proper sunburns, but a rash. It's red, splotchy, itchy, and only shows up in the areas that get sun exposure... my nose, forehead, apples of my cheeks, lower arms, and the tops of my hands. This is far worse than any sunburn I've ever had, because while a sunburn is painful, it goes away after a day or two and a combination of advil and aloe will make it bearable. This is ridiculously itchy... like to the point where I want to rip my skin off. And it doesn't.go.away. If I get a mild case it'll last a week. If I get a worse case it lasts far longer.
Yesterday I spent about three hours in the sun. I put sunblock on several times. It was my special brand of sunblock that I can only ever find in one store. I slathered it on like usual. When leaving the party, I noticed that my skin felt tight on my face, but I didn't really think anything of it, as I didn't *look* that burned. Then today, the usual itchiness started. It's becoming unbearable.
I have a beach trip planned in August, but I will be the one completely covered up, sitting under an umbrella, reading my book. I will venture into the ocean a couple times, but I don't want to tempt fate and give myself another annoying rash.
I think my affair with the sun and summertime has ended. I still like the warmth and the sun, but I shall have to worship it from afar. It makes me sad, but like all things, this too must end.