Beautiful Skin And The New Zealand Sun

It is no secret that the New Zealand sun is brutal and the effects of UV radiation for skin cancer development and premature skin aging is well documented. We have one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. I’m sure we all remember the days when we could seemingly run around with little clothing or sunblock and not get burnt.

Those days are well gone now. With every summer that passes, we become acutely aware of just how vigilant we need to be to protect our skin against the sun. Sun damaged skin can not only lead to a number of different skin cancers, but can also lead to premature skin aging and wrinkle formation, therefore application of daily SPF products should form the basis of your skin health regime.

If you are anything like me you will have seen the array of sun blocking products on show at the supermarket or pharmacy and wondered which to get. When you have children it’s hard not to be drawn to the product that seems specifically designed for their skin, cleverly marketed with its brightly coloured kids scrawled letters which surely must mean it really is for kids. Or perhaps you are wanting something specifically for your face and therefore looking for a product that has a little more elegance and softness.

And which SPF to get? And am I going swimming and likely to need one that’s water resistant? So many things to consider, one could spend an hour researching products only to come up with more questions than answers. And all you really want to know is, which one is going to stop me or my child getting burnt?

Recently you may well have heard of the controversy surrounding the Banana Boat product that many consumers claimed lead to severe burns after it was applied to their skin. This previously reputable product was suddenly at the centre of an apparent therapeutic failure lynching. So are we to avoid all Banana Boat products now? Certainly with the competition on the sunblock rack you may be tempted to try something else.

But there is only one thing to avoid in general terms. And it’s not Banana Boat products. It’s our sun. And, not to avoid it to the point you develop vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis, but surely we know that seeking shade should be your first sun protection defense.

I’m still somewhat bamboozled when I see people deliberately lying out in the sun in their swim suits at the beach, chasing the tan in the quest for that perfect glow. Deliberately irradiating yourself for “beauty” is an oxymoron to say the least.

Watching someone lying out in the sun in a bathing suit, is kind of like watching someone lie in the path of a far off slow-moving steam roller. There is a certain dire inevitability to the outcome that is painful to watch but does not have enough urgency to make one want to intervene directly at the moment. But perhaps we should be.

If you’ve ever seen aggressive melanoma, it is every bit as scary as a steam roller that’s about to hit you. In fact I daresay many people who are given such a diagnosis, say they feel as if they’ve been hit by one. Remember that your first protection is to minimise sun exposure, not go out and bake yourself in it on purpose!

Slathering yourself in sunblock is NOT a free pass to then go and spend as much time as you can under the UV grill. Sunblock is merely a second line preventer, behind hats, shirts and shade seeking. Perhaps we should be remembering THAT when we are standing in front of the sunblock aisle wondering which product to purchase.

I have a simple recommendation when it comes to sunblock purchase. Select the strongest one that you can afford. Sun protection can be expensive, however now is not the time to be frugal. If it’s the difference between purchasing your SPF product or your lipstick this week, then get the block! It’s not only a beauty product in that it helps to prevent skin aging, but it may well be saving your life one application at a time.