It's summer and can you think of anything greater than spending a week under the bright sun at the beach? Well, if you are like me and very pale, then yes you can. It's not that you don't like the beach, but that the beach (mainly the sun) doesn't like you. Your fair skin is not strong enough to handle the great power of the sun and that leaves you fifty shades of red by the time your trip is through. You expect differently each time, maybe you will get tan like your friends. But alas, you resemble a tomato for the remainder of the summer. Here are a few things pale people get to do at the beach.
1. Use a lot of sunscreen
Protecting your skin from the sun is very important. You spend 20 minutes in the grocery store debating which sunscreens are best. You don't buy that weak SPF 15, no you wear SPF 30 or 50. Once you get to the beach, you have to fight the urge to run into the crashing waves almost immediately. You must first completely cover yourself in the super strong sunscreen. Any spot you miss, can and will burn.
2. Wear a hat and layers
You try to protect your face from the sun by wearing a hat. This means the extra challenge of holding on to the hat in the water or if there is a strong gust of wind. You also try to cover up as much as possible so that your skin isn't exposed too long. This means that you're going to be extremely hot in the 90+ degree weather, in order to protect your paleness.
3. Put on aloe
However, it doesn't matter what you do, you will still get burned. This is why you purchase a lot aloe and have to smother it all over. My mother asked me how I got so burned and I told her I went outside. The aloe will help soothe the deep pain that makes it hard to move or sit or breathe.
4. Get weird tan lines
With all of the layers and sunscreen you wear, you end up with strange tan lines. Beyond the ones caused by the most fashionable bathing suits. In addition to the tan lines are the small red marks where you missed with sun screen.
5. Alternative activities
Once you are completely burned to a crisp, it's time to enjoy other activities that the beach area has to offer. I recommend mini golf, probably in the evening hours when it is less sunny. There are, of course, cute little shops and great sea food restaurants you can enjoy as well. Maybe catch a show or a concert. Tell you parents it's best for your health.
6. Do it again anyway
Next summer you will do it all over again. You'll remember how much fun you had with your family and friends at the beach. You'll forget how red you were and chalk it up to just needing stronger sun screen next time. The cycle will continue. But hey that how memories are made right? Stock up on aloe.
