With summer right around the corner now is the best time to start thinking about the sun and your skin.
How many times have you heard, “we used to slather on baby oil and bake in the sun?” Probably too many times to count. In the beauty industry, we know entirely too much information about the negative effects caused by UV exposure to not be sharing with our clients. These topics should be included in the conversations with your clients to keep their skin protected from the sun.
FACTS
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. Re-read that sentence—one in five! How many clients do you see a day? How much of your clients’ skin are you seeing on a regular basis? As providers, it is part of our job to be aware of certain moles, lesions, and pigments. We need to have real conversations with our clients. The odds that your client will feel more comfortable talking to you than scheduling a doctor’s appointment are pretty high. How hard is it to ask your client, “Have you seen a change in that mole?” Or “When was the last time you’ve seen a dermatologist?” We have the power to help prevent skin cancer, let’s use it!
SPF
Once you’ve got your clients attention, steer them toward the right direction of proper sun protection. Manufacturers are adding “SPF” in everything from moisturizers to makeup. However, the big downfall from that is the SPF is either too low and/or consumers are not applying it regularly when exposed to the sun. Stand-alone sunscreens offer the most concentrated protection against UVA/UVB rays.
Aging
Not only is skin cancer scary, what about aging skin? Anti-aging is a huge market in skincare and skincare products. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so what happens to it when it’s exposed to UV? The collagen and elastin start to breakdown, and the formation of wrinkles and leathery skin can start to appear. The natural aging process is unavoidable, but most of the visible signs of aging are caused from the sun. Help your clients help themselves by teaching them proper skincare and use of sunscreen.
You’ve worked hard to build your clients’ trust and respect, and owe it to them to engage in these types of conversations. We all know they are not the most enjoyable and exciting conversations, but are highly important. Educating them on prevention, the right products, and how to help with aging process should be on the top of your priority list. We all need to be enjoying the sun smarter and safer than ever before.
