By Miranda Massie, Healthy UBC Blogger

Summer is finally here and despite the questionable conditions outside at the moment, along with summer comes sun and with the sun comes UVA and UVB exposure. I will admit that I have been, and will always be, a dedicated sun worshipper. Nothing warms this Leo’s heart more than stretching out under the sun’s rays and basking in its glow. For me, over the years, the tan I developed on my skin was less of an added bonus and more the purposeful end result of spending prolonged periods of time outdoors. Time and time again I would disregard my mother’s instructions to “make sure you wear and re-apply your sunscreen” and I would proudly arrived back at school each September ready to show of the fruits of my summer labour; most of which was the product of irresponsible burns. My favourite days were the cloudy ones where I would convince myself that I didn’t need to wear sunscreen. Some of the worst burns incurred in my life happened on cloudy days and yet I would get excited at the prospect of what my tan might look like once the redness faded away.

Last year, I travelled through India and spent a significant amount of time on the beaches of Goa; if you have ever seen pictures, you know this was not a hard task to accomplish. Not wanting to burn while living in a beach hut with little ventilation and limited access to Aloe Vera, I made sure to buy SPF 50 and re-applied every two hours. Two months later, I arrived home barely recognizable because I had become so dark. Though I had managed a great tan, avoided getting burned and was receiving lots of complements on how great it looked, I started to think about the power of the sun. What was actually happening within my cells to create this look, despite my vigilant sunscreen applications, and what did this mean for my health in the future. I grew sick to my stomach thinking about it. Any colour on your skin means that those cells are already altered and that type of damage does not fade away when the tan does. I love a tan as much as the next person but I would rather lather up now if it means I will stay alive later. I realize that some damage may already be done from many of the burns I sustained throughout my teenage years, but I am now actively working to ensure that the largest organ in my body stays healthy.

Skin cancer is currently the most diagnosed form of cancer in Canada and is mostly preventable. Despite these facts, parents continue to allow their children to play in the park without sun screen or a hat and high school grads line up by the dozen at tanning salons come June. This is not acceptable. The funny part about my former tanning habits was that I was always anti-indoor tanning and yet I only realize now how hypocritical I was being for acting as equally irresponsible outside. After reading back through this article I would like to re-phrase my original statement: I used to be a devoted sun lover and tanner but am now a proudly reformed sun worshipper. I still love to lay out on a hot day but now I make sure to avoid the hottest hours, to wear and re-apply my sunscreen and if I really feel like I need a little colour boost, I get my tan from a bottle. [Not all tanning creams make you look streaky and orange, just do your research and try a few until you find the right one!]

~ Miranda Massie

Miranda is blogger for the Healthy UBC Blog, as well as an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) Clerk in Health Promotion Programs at UBC. Miranda feels passionate about inspiring people to become active participants in their own health. To view more of Miranda’s blog posts visit the Healthy UBC Blog.

We recently chatted with Trish Friesen, Editor-In-Chief of TripStyler.com, a daily travel lifestyle website dishing daily trip style tips to aspiring jetsetters. Trish eats, sleeps and breathes travel, packing her bag every two weeks for a wild adventure or sun-drenched hotspot. Australia, New York, Seattle and Whistler—and that’s just this spring! A former tanner turned sun safe guru, we asked Trish to provide insight on how she regularly plays in the sun while still being safe about her skin.

One of your favorite topics is packing: tricks, tips, carry-ons, etc… You managed in Australia for just under 3 weeks of travel with one carry-on and a purse. For those travellers wanting to pack light—while bringing the necessities to protect themselves from the sun—do you have any suggestions?

If I’m headed to the countries like the US, UK or Australia—where I know I’ll be able to find a good body sunscreen easily—I only bring a 3oz face sunscreen with me in my carry-on. Note that most concentrated, high spf face sunscreens come in bottles 3.4oz/100ml anyway, which is the allowable maximum for a carry-on liquid! Alternatively, if I’m flying to a country like Peru or Kenya, where finding the right sunscreen might be a little more difficult, I bring two 3oz containers of 70spf screen. I’ll use one for my face, and the other for my body until I find a suitable alternative.

As an avid jetsetter, what are the top three things you pack so that you can enjoy the sun safely on your travels?

I always keep the following sun protection essentials packed away in my carry-on, so if I have to leave on short notice, I won’t forget them:

1) Hats. Foldable hats that can be squished into your suitcase are where it’s at for travel. I always carry: a sporty one for running, a casual one for the beach, and a chic one for sunset cocktails!

2) Broad protection sunscreen (70spf for face, 30spf for body).

3) A Pashmina is my top travel trick! Wear it to the airport as a scarf, on the plane as a blanket, at the pool or beach as a cover-up, out for dinner draped over your shoulders and around your head if you get stuck in intense sun or rain without a hat! When I was in Napa in 40+ degree Celsius weather, I also used my Pashmina over my summer dress to guard against the sun when I was outdoors, as well as to keep me warm in the heavily air-conditioned tasting rooms!

Many people are opting for a staycation this summer. What are some of Vancouver’s hidden gems where travellers can staycation in style while avoiding the sun when it is at its peak, from 11am – 4pm?

The Greater Vancouver Area’s natural playground offers endless treats for locals looking to get away in or near the city! Some of my favourite spots are:

Jericho Beach - Beachcombing, skimboarding, walking and biking are just a handful of the activities you can do in one day at Jericho Beach. Start with an early-morning kayak {rentals available} when the sun is less intense, relax a little at the beach until 11.30am, then walk, bike or drive up to Point Grey Village for a sandwich at Pane e Formaggio.

Granville Island - First things first, grab a freshly squeezed juice and just-baked croissant from The Market! Then burn off the calories renting a stand up paddle board to cruise up False Creek towards the Athlete’s Village. When you hear a lazy afternoon lunch calling, which happens to coincide with the sun’s strongest rays, spend the afternoon on a shady patio overlooking the water!

White Rock - In the summer, White Rock turns into a beach club-like hotspot with endless sandbars, restaurants bursting at the seams and some of the best Gelato this side of Italy! After you’ve savoured a Dulce Gelato, beach it up around 3.30pm when the sun is getting less intense. Once the hunger pangs set in, walk across the street to a sunlit patio for dinner.

Whether lounging on Jericho beach, taking an ocean cruise or doing an African safari (Trish has done it all!), what is your key fashion piece for protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays when travelling?

A hat, a hat, a hat! All my friends know that I won’t go near the sun without one—even when it’s cloudy! Plus, with a fabulous hat and sunglasses, people will wonder if you’re a celebrity!

What made you change your ways, from former tanner to sun safe guru?

It was a combination of 3 things. When I was little, the world seemed to be getting serious about sun protection, and though I was wowed by the 80′s Baywatch standard of bleached hair and a bronzed bod, I knew it wasn’t safe. As I got older, I usually {aside from a few trips} used sunscreen for prolonged sun use, but never for 1-hour power tans, which looking back, was so dumb. When I hit my mid 20s, the deal was sealed. I wasn’t getting any younger, and realized this was the body that was going to carry me through life. At the same time, Dermatologists were professing the safest and most effective anti-aging tactic was daily sunscreen use. Done and done!