Body Sense

Published for ABMP members by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. Body Sense magazine is published for the purpose of educating the general public about the benefits of massage and bodywork, along with additional well-being topics. The information contained in this magazine is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. No par t of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without specific written permission from ABMP. Publisher cannot be held responsible for content of adver tisements. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for a licensed health-care professional. Volume #24, Issue #2, Summer 2021 © 2021 All rights reserved. bodysensemagazinedigital.com massagetherapy.com Body Sense massage, bodywork & healthy living As consumers of massage, your appetite for self-care exceeds most and you have a greater understanding of the importance of healthy habits than the majority of Americans. So, I know I'm preaching to the choir when I talk to you about wearing sunscreen. And I'm likely only one of many you hear this advice from: You hear it from your primary care provider, your esthetician, your dermatologist, your mother. Which leads me to ask: You hear it, but are you heeding it? I was shocked to learn that in a recent survey of consumers, 61 percent of males and 50 percent of females reported they rarely or never wear sunscreen. That number astounds me, especially after the decades of education we've been given on the subject. Here in Colorado, with our thin air and high elevation, not wearing sunscreen is a deadly sin . . . literally. Knowing what we know about sun damage and skin cancer, it's hard to understand why someone wouldn't follow the guidance. But then I remember my own experience, when earlier this year, after months of being stuck indoors, I neglected to do a good job applying sunscreen to my face on a bright spring day. I know I was "tricked" by the cool temperatures (despite the bright sun), and by my own false sense of security that my makeup had enough SPF to protect me for my five hours outdoors (turns out, my foundation only has SPF 4, not nearly enough to protect against any sun exposure). The next morning, I saw the damage I had done. My forehead and scalp were brightly pink, tender, and slightly swollen from the injury and assault from the sun. For days, as I slathered myself in vitamin C creams, I wondered how I could be so irresponsible to let this happen? Why had I let my guard down? As my aging skin slowly healed, I looked at the wrinkles that weren't there only days earlier, the "age" spots that immediately darkened, and the sunburn recovery that took longer than in years past. It made me sad, but it also motivated me to re-up my sun-care diligence. Yes, we're only human, but let's work hard not to let our guard down with something as important as our skin's health. Don't become complacent and tire of hearing the message to wear your sunscreen . . . at the least, it will save you some wrinkles; at most, it might save your life. E D I T O R ' S N O T E K A R R I E O S B O R N , E D I T O R K A R R I E @ A B M P . C O M Karrie Osborn, Editor karrie@abmp.com Darren Buford, Contributing Editor darren@abmp.com Brandon Twyford, Contributing Editor brandon@abmp.com Mary Barthelme Abel, Contributing Editor marya@abmp.com Angie Parris-Raney, Director of Advertising angie@abmp.com Amy Klein, Art Director amy@abmp.com Amy Rowe, Graphic Designer amyr@abmp.com staff 61% of males and 50% of females rarely or never wear sunscreen. Don't Forget to Just Do It!

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