We’re all guilty of not always being sun safe, whether we forgot our gear, didn’t bother to reapply or even thought, “Just this once, I’ll be okay.” Then it happens, the dreaded sunburn. At first it’s painful, then itchy until the redness fades away, and if you’re lucky it turns into a tan. This cycle can only continue so many times before the dermatologist recommends a biopsy. Yikes.
Irresistible Ka’anapali Beach
Options
Our options have been limited to:
a) Staying out of the sun (Not going to happen; we’re on Maui!)
b) Sunscreen, both chemical and physical
c) Wearing long sleeves and pants
No swimming without sunscreen and sun wear!
Solutions
Seeing that option a) is not really viable, that leaves us with b) and c).
Sunscreen
A bill has recently been signed that will ban chemical sunscreens in Hawaii, coming into effect on January 1, 2021. The chemicals being banned are oxybenzone and octinoxate, both which are used to filter UV rays. These chemicals have been found to have detrimental effects on coral reefs in Hawaii, hence the ban.
A variety of mineral sunscreens recently used poolside
Physical sunscreens are those which contain mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They tend to cast a whitish haze unless rubbed in but they tend to last longer and are less irritating than chemical sunscreens. Mineral formulas are often labeled for use on babies but are now being manufactured for face and with a tint to reduce the whitish haze.
Sun Wear
Protective sun wear such as rash guards/sun shirts, hats, sun pants, and sunglasses have really been on the rise in recent years. It’s almost the new norm to see people really covered up, especially those who work on boats or at the beach all day.
Family poolside attire (we still haven’t tried sun pants)
Some boat crews have even started wearing scarfs or face masks to protect their necks and faces. With a quick dry fabric, sun shirts can keep you cool and protected. Best thing is, there’s no need to reapply and they can be more cost effective than sunscreen in the long run.
Hand protection built into a sun shirt
Hawaii’s skin cancer rate is 30% higher than the national average. Whenever you’re outside, please remember to use sun protection.
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