Advice To Young People : Eventually The Sun Damage Doesn't Go Away

No Worries, That Sun Burn Will Heal Right Up...

That is the common belief among young people, and it is understandable since the evidence of its veracity appears every time you get a sun burn when you're young.

Eventually though, the truth is, those sun burns stop healing very well, eventually they will stop healing all together.

That is the nature of all damage. Eventually it becomes more than can be repaired.

Look At Your Sun Damaged Skin

The skin is peeling.
It looks angry and red.
Freckles appear everywhere.
Maybe fine lines appear, especially prominent when you smile or otherwise place your face in a pronounced position of expression.
Your skin looks blotchy.
The skin tone is uneven.
All in all, you don't look very attractive.

Naturally though, you look on the bright side and don't cry over spilled milk.
Your skin will heal up like it always does, and you'll look the same as always.
That's the beauty of being young, not like those old people who look ugly just by virtue of being old.

My advice to young people though, is to look at your sun damaged skin and imagine that it doesn't heal, or that it heals badly.
Imagine having to live with that skin, for the rest of your life.
It will happen, very quickly, unless you begin avoiding or protecting your skin from the sun.

Take It In

Those fine lines become deeper wrinkles.
The redness of the skin becomes permanent and doesn't go away.
The blotchiness and uneven skin tone doesn't go away.
The freckles don't go away.

How do you feel about the sun now?
How do you feel about sunburns now?

When You're 30 Onwards

It might be a surprise to you, but your older self will still want to look good.
In fact, your older self will still be pretty much the same as you, with more memories and skills and experiences, but still motivated by the desire to be loved and accepted and attractive, just like you are now.

Trust me, your older self will greatly appreciate you protecting yourself from the sun now.

I know I wish my younger self had known how bad the sun is for skin.

Well, now you do.