When I was eight, I went to the beach with my friend’s family. I feel asleep on the sand with my book, and woke up with the first terrible sunburn of my life.
For the next month, I had fevers and horrible blisters, fortunately not as severe as the ones these boys had. I couldn’t sleep on my back or raise my arms over my head. After I got better, I never really thought about it again, but I still have scars fifteen years later.
Today, I found out something I never knew about those scars. Because of that one bad sunburn, I doubled my risk of developing melanoma as an adult.
This video shows kids explaining the house rules for their family. They’ve been taught to wear seatbelts in the car, helmets on their bikes, and hats and gloves in the cold, but when it comes to sun protection, that don’t know a whole lot.
This is a great example of why all kids need to be taught to use sun protection early and often. That means sunblock, umbrellas, and hats to protect their faces and scalps. It’s just like brushing their teeth; the earlier they learn, the better their chances of preventing damage later in life.
Take it from me. I suffered one terrible burn, and now I check every mole and freckle religiously for signs of damage. I’ll also need check-ups from the dermatologist every six months for the rest of my life to keep an eye on my skin.
Sun protection isn’t optional. Please SHARE this important message to all of your friends, and spread the word about sun damage!
