Social Media Danger: Sunburn Selfies ⋆ Sundicators

I am not at all a fan of Social Media but I am a big fan of Sunscreen. I’m learning to be open about Social Media but honestly, these posts happen because I am reminded by my team that social media is a constant. I’m used to the old fashioned way of doing things like talking face-to-face, banging on doors or picking up the phone. I am not a millennial but are learning to accept this generation’s way of doing things. So here we are.

In less than a single decade, the way we as a society communicate has changed dramatically. What seemed unimaginable back when Y2K was all the rage is now commonplace. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & etc, ect, ect all bring the entire world right to your computer and smartphone screens. Now within seconds, everyone you know (or don’t know) the world over can see your updates in real time. The merits and pitfalls of that can be debated another time though, for the focus of this blog post are trip and vacation photos and the dangerous selfies that come with that.

Any random ten minute scroll through a typical newsfeed might showcase a dozen or so pictures posted by friends and family at various places. While you might see fun and frivolity, we here at Pretty Pale see countless more examples of where sunscreen should be worn. (Hey, what can I tell you? We’re a skin wellness blog.)

Many folks think of sunscreen primarily when they’re at the beach, but the reality is that the sun is everywhere. Even when you can’t see it. And it’s no less dangerous to you in your own backyard than it is at a lake or on the shoreline. Our goal is to get you to think about sunscreen application wherever you are, and social media is our ally in this endeavor. Nearly every outdoor photo you come across is another reminder to protect your skin from sun skin damage.

Picnics, sporting events, tailgating, tourist spots, hiking trails, day trips, amusement parks, water parks, boat rides, cycling, leisurely walks, backyard barbeques, swimming pools, county fairs, outdoor car shows are just a partial list of activities we’d bet you’ve seen posted on social media at one time or another.

So let’s spend a few moments discussing some of these. Take sporting events. If you’re at a baseball or football game, not even counting any time you might spend tailgating, you’re tethered to one seat for three hours while you bake in the sun with nowhere to go. Do you swim? Water doesn’t protect you from the sun’s harmful UV Rays any more than eating cake protects you from calories. Even casually strolling around at some of the aforementioned places exposes you to sun damage.

There are many who don’t care about mild sunburn, but the truth is there’s no such thing as “mild” sunburn. Each and every one adds up and can put you at risk for skin cancer. And any of them could be the trigger to a skin condition you might not even know you had.

Look at it this way: whether you’re driving across the country or just to the store for milk, you’d fasten your seatbelt, right? Why? Because you know that be it five feet from your driveway or five hundred miles, it only takes one accident to change your life forever. So you protect yourself. It’s the same with wearing sunscreen. Remember, any sunburn also has the potential to change your life forever.

So protect yourself.

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About Kerry Spindler

Kerry Spindler is a Melanoma survivor and celebrity fashion and beauty expert. She uses her experience in the fashion and beauty world to bring greater awareness to skin cancer and Melanoma.