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As the summer heat reaches its peak we need to be aware of the damaging effects to much sun can cause to our skin. Growing up in the hot Caribbean sun and beaches in St. Maarten Dutch Antilles, I had no knowledge back then of how damaging the sun was to our skin. I remembered my mother telling me of how my father used to take me for walks on the beach when I was a baby during the early rising of the sun, because it was during the very early part of the day that it was the safest and most beneficial for getting the necessary vitamin D that we need. 

 But when I grew up I didn’t pay attention to that anymore, I loved the beach and sea and spend many of my youthful years in the scorching sun and water. Believe me all this news about sunscreens with UVB and UVA protection I had no idea what they were when I was younger growing up in the hot sun, so you can imagine how much damage I was subjecting my bare skin to. Now I have learned and seen the damaging effects the sun can have on our skin. Those harmful UV sun rays are highest between 10am and 4 pm.

Most women in the hot climates use broad hats, parasols or umbrella’s to protect themselves from the hot sun during these hours of the day.  I remember my mother always wearing a gorgeous broad hat to protect her face from the hot sun.

We need a measure of sunlight for Vitamin D in the body which is so vital for our health and disease prevention.  Scientists now say that at least 30 minutes of sunlight is sufficient to get our daily dose of Vitamin D. Also sunlight affects our mood, a nice sunny day can lift our spirits and drive depression away. The best time to get this is early mornings or before noon as I learned from my father and most nutritionist also recommend. During the early part of the day the UV rays from the sun are lower and less damaging to the skin.

 It is good to let the sun hit your back, rather than your face. Sunlight shining on your back is absorbed into the spine and distributes vitamin D throughout the body which aids in bone formation. People whom lack complete sunlight which leads to a Vitamin D deficiency usually suffer from bone loss and other back, muscle and health problems.  But to much sun exposure is not good. But what kind of damage can the sun cause?

 To much UV rays can damage the eyes, the body’s immune system, and causes changes in skin texture and can lead to skin cancer. And it is not true that only caucasians need to worry about sun damage, the sun damages all skin types and colors. I have met one dark skinned African American woman whom was suffering from skin cancer, and read also of other black people in other parts of the tropics that have gotten skin cancer from the sun. Caucasian people or lighter skinned ethnic groups because of their lighter skin show the visible signs of skin damage quicker than those of darker skin. Ofcourse most of them spend time in the sun to get a tan which looks great, but in reality a tan is a sign of damaged skin, which later turns into wrinkles. 

Some of the effects of sun damage are: thickening and thinning of the skin resulting in wrinkles. Dilating of small superficial blood vessels on the skin. Yellow discolorations in lighter skin. Dark blotchy uneven skin discolorations or dry leathery look in dark skin. Pigment changes such as freckles, age or liver spots and white spots on legs and backs of hands and arms. Since the face is the first place to show age, the sun contributes to that old dry weathered look resulting in premature aging. It can also form small crusty bumps or moles and precancerous lesions especially on the face, neck and backs of hands. And the most feared of all is skin cancer, there are 3 different kinds but the most deadly of all is melanoma as this one metastasizes.

 So what is the best way to protect your skin against the sun? Since I am now grown up and know all this info that I didn’t know when I was younger and lived in the sun, I usually use an umbrella if I am going to be out in the sun for several hours. This is one of the ways most people in the tropics or hot climates protect themselves from the sun. But I noticed whenever I walk through the streets in New York with my umbrella,  some people look at me like I am crazy, and I hear remarks especially from children: “Hey, lady, it is not raining, why the umbrella?”. Once I overheard a little boy as I was passing them on the street asked his mother: “Why is she using an umbrella, it is not raining”. Then I looked at him and smilingly answered: “I know, it is my Rain Shade for the sun”. I usually use that expression so that the children can understand that an umbrella is not only for the rain, but also for the sun. 

In the USA the umbrella is only or mostly used for the rain, but I hardly ever see anyone walking in the hot sun using the umbrella here in New York. Maybe most people like those children don’t know that the umbrella was originally designed for protection against the scorching sun. It was called the Parasol. “Para” means “shield” and “sol” means “sun.” So the parasol was a canopy that protects against the precipitation from the hot sun.  The word “umbrella” on the other hand  evolved from the Latin “umbella”  “umbel” is a flat-topped rounded flower. And “umbra,” meaning “shaded.” Later the umbrella was referred to a device more suited to protect from rain. Often the difference is the material from which it was constructed.  

All during history going back to Europe, India, Egypt, and China the original use of the umbrella was for the protection from the sun. You would think that it is only in our modern age that scientists discovered the damaging effects of the UVB and UVA rays from the sun. But even back then they knew how to shield themselves from the skin damaging effects of the sun by using a shade over their heads. Even Kings and high officials had servants or maids holding umbrella’s over their heads when going out in the hot sun. It was only later closer to our century that the fabric of the parasol started to change so that it could be used also for protection from the rain. 

Today there are many types of sunscreen lotions for the protection of the skin. But according to some dermatologists, in order to get complete protection, you have to re-apply the lotion every two hours. Most people forget to do this, or may not be in a place where it will be possible to reapply the lotion that often. And remember again, it doesn’t matter what race or skin color you have, to much sun will damage your skin and contribute to premature aging, can cause skin cancer and damage the eyes and immune system.

Sure as mentioned above, a nice sunny day can make us feel happy and bring a smile to our face. But we want that face to be smooth, youthful, glowing, evenly toned and wrinkled free. Just the opposite of what too much sun will do. If it is not customary to use a parasol or umbrella in your side of the world, or you don’t feel comfortable using it for the sun, you can also use a big broad hat that will cover your face, and upper body part. Or use a sunscreen with a SPF protection of 45 or more. But remember to keep reapplying it every two hours or it will not keep protecting you from the sun. 

 After learning about the history of the umbrella how it was originally used only for protection from the sun, and in some countries it is still being used as such. I will continue to use it for my protection, even though some kids or people think I am an “Odd Ball” with an umbrella when it is not raining. Who knows, I might be starting a new trend in New York. So next time I am walking with my umbrella during the high UV peak in the sun and a little child yells out at me: “Hey lady it is not raining, why the umbrella?” I will just continue to smile and yell back:  “Yea, I know, it is my Rain Shade for the Sun”.

Written by (C) Glenda Brill 

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