Sun: The ultimate frenemie
In my book, nothing beats a beautiful sunny day. It’s something about that great big ball of light that brings joy to the world, and smiles on peoples faces. Say what you will, but everything seems a little easier whenever it’s sunny outside.
In the last years however, we are more, and more often reminded, that the sun is not our friend, despite all the good feelings it brings us. Behind the warmth of its rays lurk huge threats to our skin, and health if we over do it, and roast in the sun like there’s no tomorrow. I once had a friend who even returned from her ski holidays looking like a lobster!
Long story short: a little sun is good, a lot of it is very, very bad. We need the sun to touch our skin, not only because it feels so nice, but also because that is the way our body can produce vitamin D, the vitamin we need for our bones, teeth, and hair to stay healthy. Also it is nice having a bit of a healthy tan during the summer, since we all get a bit luminescent, and ill looking during the winter months of perpetual darkness (especially the naturally pale population, which I am a proud member of as well). However, if we over-expose our skin to sun, the consequences will not be healthy, nor attractive looking for that matter. The best we can get away with are sun spots, and minor depigmentations, but can expect our skin to eventually start looking ten years older than it is. Not to mention the dreaded c word. For me, these are all well enough reasons to stay out of the sun, even though I do love it so. I’m sure I wouldn’t love it all that much, the day any of these unpleasant phenomena would come knocking on my door.
Nobody says we can’t enjoy the sun, what everybody is doing though, is warning us. The ozone layer has become incredibly thin, and fact of the matter is, because of it, the sun became dangerous, and dangerous in a way, that should be respected.
