It's July, which means that we are officially in the full swing of summertime, a time of year intended for fun in the sun, cooling off by the pool, and generally all sorts of outdoor activities meant to fully appreciate the nice weather. Nothing can beat a relaxing trip down to the beach, digging your toes in the sand, and enjoying the feeling of warm sunshine beating on your skin – unless you’re like me, whose ghostly pale skin quickly turns that delicious summer sun into a painful and unpleasant experience. As much of a blast that summer is, for people with pale skin, the season comes with a few obstacles that people with more melanin don’t understand.
1. Being very, very, very familiar with the smell of sunscreen.
Sunscreen is not just a precaution, it’s a way of life. By the time you’re three layers in (and still probably burning), that horrifying smell is so ingrained into your mind that any whiff of it instantly sends you into countless flashbacks of application after never-ending application.
2. Being a sunscreen snob.
You only have SPF 15? WEAK. It's either SPF 50 or go home. And don't even get me started on the spray stuff!
3. Forgetting to pack sunscreen and feeling your soul leave your body when you finally realize it.
Then having to scrounge around to find a friend with the goods, and feeling like a no-good, mooching sunscreen leech when you have to apply multiple times.
4. Not being afraid to ask literally anyone to help you apply.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and it doesn't matter who is doing it, as long as it's being done. There's no room for embarrassment when it comes to sunscreen application.
5. Having to wear layers in hot weather for fear of burning.
In the blazing heat, sometimes it’s better to sweat like a sinner in you-know-where than risk the wrath of the real devil: sunburns (or, even better, a burn on top of a burn).
6. Owning too many hats.
Ball caps. Sun hats. Sombreros. You name it, we probably own it. Hat hair over painful burns is a regretful but necessary surrender.
7. Accidentally blinding everyone around you because your skin reflects the light.
You become a hazard when your skin shines like a flashlight.
8. Avoiding certain clothing colors to prevent looking paler than you already are.
Neon colors are a strict no, “does this make me look pale?” is the new “does this make me look fat?" and black is simply a mistake.
9. Taking photos with friends who are also pale to avoid looking any paler.
And, if possible, keeping a distance from anyone who isn’t.
10. Seeing pictures taken with the flash on and realizing you look like a ghost.
Photo-ops can get to be exceptionally hard when you’re a walking mirror.
11. Wishing for cloudy days while everyone else you know is hoping for sunshine.
don't get me wrong--I love the sun, too. Sometimes, though, love just isn't enough (especially where sunburns are involved).
12. Not being able to get any sort of tan without burning first.
With greatness comes great sacrifice.
13. Going outside for a brief amount of time and ending up with a sunburn.
Nothing beats spending an hour outside and then having to pull a Boo-Radley-style stay in for the next week because you somehow managed to burn in that brief amount of time.
14. Getting sunburns in places you weren't aware could burn.
It’s interesting how you forget that the inside of your elbow exists until it’s suddenly bringing you burning pain every time you move.
15. Having numerous horror stories about the unique burns you've received over the years.
Whether it be a trendy swimsuit, your favorite pair of sunglasses, or an unintended nap, we've all been there; sometimes, burns are inevitable, no matter how hard we try to prevent them.
