Blog #176: Wearing Sunscreen
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Feb 7, 2022
- 3 min read
I am pretty sure that many of you out there have had to wear something on your skin that can be both inconvenient and uncomfortable at the same time. However, despite this, this protection can not only keep you from being fried by the sun, but also might save your life down the line.
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I am, of course, talking about sunscreen. Every day since we’ve been down here, my mother has been applying my skin with sunscreen before we would go down to the beach. I will admit, even though I don’t show it nor do I try to admit, but wearing sunscreen can be very tough for my sensory issues.
As a neurodiverse individual, I can tell you that sunscreen can have a range of tolerances and some of those tolerances are difficult to cope with. In addition to having extra time to keep you from going to the beach or the pool or wherever it is you want to be at, I can tell you that the last thing I want to have is to be kept waiting because of an extra layer of protection being added to me at the last minute.
If you live in a warm weather climate like Florida year-round, I am pretty sure you are subjected to being applied sunscreen on a daily basis.
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But there is a reason for me to have sunscreen on. You see, my family has a medical history of the skin cancer…melanoma. Melanoma is one of the most deadliest forms of cancers and I actually lost a distant uncle to Melanoma in 2001 at the age of just 60.
Even though may seem like a murderous line, but if anything were to happen to me, then “Going the Distance” would go along with me. Melanoma is one of the many things that I try to keep out of my life so I can be around those who love and care about me as well as being there for the neurodiversity/disability community.
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Melanoma…it’s more than an ugly creature.
It may be hard for some to accept but think of getting applied for sunscreen as like going through airport security or going through a school safety drill, you don’t want to go through with it, but you got to. In fact, applying sunscreen may end up saving your life down the road.
In this age of trying to stay protected from illness, the last thing doctors want to see is someone with an ailment on top of what they are experiencing right now with the covid pandemic. By applying sunscreen on your skin, you are not only doing your doctors a favor, but you are most importantly doing yourself and your family a favor by staying healthy.
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Dr. David Jones of Newton Wellesley Hospital has been our primary dermatologist since 2009
Furthermore, it’s important that you have a dermatologist amongst your team of doctors that you go to every six months. My family’s dermatologist, Dr. David Jones, has been working with us since 2009 and even though he is all the way up near Boston at Newton Wellesley Hospital, I always say that the best in the business is sometimes far away from where you live. It may be inconvenienced for some, but it is a sacrifice we are willing to make.
Finally, if you want meet and see Dr. Jones for yourself, check out these two videos he was featured in that are now on YouTube:
In conclusion, its important to remember, neurodiverse or not, sunscreen is meant to protect you more than being a hinderance. So, get protected if you can!!
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Catch you all later!!
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