The Summer is in Town

The Summer is in Town

Author: Masticina Akicta
Date: 23 June 2020

Summer is in Town

So the Summer has arrived, though this country luckily also offers days of gray and wind many of the days are about the sun shining. To many that is a good thing, to some like me it isn’t. It is the time we make sure we have enough UV cream, clothes that block out the sun and have to plan when we go outside.
To some Summer is a great thing, to others the day-star’s oppressive rays and heat are bad. Yet you can’t change the reality that summer is in town.
Today is a Tuesday and UV readings are reaching 8. Meaning one can burn easily within fifteen minutes unprotected.

UV Cream and Sunglasses

A common tool among vampires is UV cream and sunglasses. In my country it can get up to UV level 8, which is pretty powerful. If you go by the calculations of the exposure.
My skin is between 100 and 200 and how quick is burns. Which means that exposed to UV levels 1 [aka winter levels] I can be unprotected out for 100 to 200 minutes. But as 8 hits it is closer to 13 to 25 minutes unprotected. Luckily we have UV cream to make that longer. But even then I do get headaches and can overheat easy in the hot weather. That is why I like to stay inside and move activities into the morning or evening. Like a smart person would. Not to mention the little red heat blots showing up on my skin.
And you think clouds help, oh no, on a cloudy day you still can get level 6 exposure or more. So that is something you need to learn to deal with. Even seemingly innocent summer days can be bad news. That bottle of UV cream will be useful.
Don’t forget clothing that blocks off some of those rays.

UV Formula

I shall repeat the formula here:
The skin factor is how quick you burn or how long you can stay outside unprotected. Mine is between 100 and 200. But some have closer to 50 and others are closer to 300. It depends on your skin color and how it reacts. And yes some have closer to 0 due to skin conditions.
In the middle of the winter with UV power 1 I can be out there for 100 to 200 minutes unprotected. No troubles!
In the summer though with UV at 8 that time is cut short. By its factor 100/8 = 12 minutes and 200/8 = 25 minutes. Quite simple isn’t it?
And you can find out the UV factor on that day and area by checking the daily weather. On a good weather reporting website they also mention the UV factor.

But what if we apply UV cream. And lets say it is UV 30. And lets say that we apply it well enough to get at least half its value. [People almost never put enough UV cream on for full protection].

(200/8)*15= 375 minutes protected outside.

Simple isn’t it? Check the weather status what UV is doing, apply strong enough UV cream and most of us should be fine to a point. The sun still irritates.

Midday's in the Shadow

In the top of the midday it is the hottest, the sun is fully out. It is when I usually am inside hiding pretty much from the day star. I can go out, I don’t burst in flames, it just feels very wrong and I have a limited time I can be outside.
Being inside somewhere in the shadow is my way. I got a sister who is the other way around always trying to find the sun or even go on vacation in Sunny Countries. And yet here I am always thinking how the sun and UV will handle things. Always making sure I am inside or somewhere in the shadow. And keep an eye on the time and have UV cream with me. Yes, I can handle SOME sun but I don’t feel right with it at all.

Sunglasses

As said before it is worth repeating. Sunglasses are the key. A good set of sunglasses can help you survive outside. Of course glass goes over plastic here, as the cheapest sets you can buy usually are plastic. And a decent enough coating should do wonders.

Hydration

And lets not forget to drink enough water or healthy drink of your choice to replace what you have lost. Food is something you can fix later, but water or something like that is definitely going to help you out. Drink enough water, definitely in the hot summers. A refillable bottle of water can do wonders against potential headaches.

Mornings and Afternoons

The simplest way to deal with it is not to get out during the midday if you don’t have to. If groceries need to be done most of those shops are also open in the afternoon or morning. Setting off the right time can spare you the worst. Not to mention, it usually is a bit more silent in the stores around certain times.
Plan your day well and stay inside during the worst, if you can.

Dealing with the Sun

Dealing with the Sun
Author: Masticina Akicta
Date: 01-06-2019

Vampires and Sun

Lets first open the doors with some basics, vampires don’t burn into ashes up in the sun. At least not the human living vampires, I haven’t seen any of the movie vampires around. It is just that most of us don’t like sun, and some of us even have a medical condition called Porphyria[1] in what acute troubles can rise due to solar exposition. I leave it up to the websites just to tell you. And even better a friend has a blog about her experiences with it[2], she has a lot to tell.

No, even if the human living vampire doesn’t get skin issues sun just feels wrong, warm, bad. And that is a reason many of use wear concealing clothes even in the summer, even those who can get a color, and yes that also include people who don’t burn like a red lobster. It just feels bad, tingling, warm and wrong on the skin.

Even as a young child I knew it felt wrong. When we did go to the beach, that is what you did as a family, I would dig a big hole and hide in there with the towel to lay on as a cover. In time we usually had something with us to provide shade, because I didn’t like the sun, even as a young child. And worse I was half blind in the sun, so that didn’t help much either. I was the kind of kid that liked to play inside and read books inside, in the shadow.

As I grew older I learned some skills to help me out. Mostly that suncream can help a bit and the right types of clothing. That and sunglasses are not a luxury. And there is some kind of full bright/full range light the dentist uses that has the same effect. I can wear sunglasses at the dentist, yes.

That aside, I and the sun were never friends. Nor the heat of a hot summer. Guh, it just feels wrong, I enjoy those cloudy days that most despise. Because at least I can see easier and feel better.

Solutions

Luckily we live in an age where many solutions exist. We got a lot of methods to fix our little issues. Or big issues, quite a few of us don’t like to be outside too long anyway in the hot sun so will enjoy time inside. And might garden later in the evening when the sun is lower. Limit how long we are outside, if and were possible and even then use the different solutions.

The Internet/Weather Reports

Check your daily UV levels for the area. Remember UV levels don’t give an S about cloud cover. So even on cloudy days, it might have a high level of UV. In my country UV level, 7 is about the most we currently get. I say currently because these days everything changes. And yes I have seen places like Australia where it hits UV 12, which requires everybody to use suncream.

Sun-lotion

It is almost magical, a lotion you put on your skin and you can stay longer outside. It feels a lot better than just the heat of the sun directly on the skin, and it does works but one has to be smart and buy sun-lotion that is wide-band. That means it blocks both UV-A and UV-B!
There can be differences in how well sun-lotion blocks UV-A and UV-B. But buying a wideband will definitely help you a few steps up compared to cream that is made to mostly block UV-A. Also, make sure you apply it thick enough and replenish where needed. It can’t hurt to have a small bottle of Sun-lotion in your bag, just for on the road.
You might get people complaining about how white you still look, let them. That is them, you gotta take care of yourself!

Sunglasses

I told you about how sensitive our eyes can be right? Well, sunglasses are the cure, you’ll end up wearing them earlier than most people. The good news, it is pretty normal to wear sunglasses for some people so we don’t look too odd. Now, good sunglasses matter, you don’t have to pay $500 for a set but more then the plastic $5 that claim to block UV is a good idea. Oh, and it helps if it is the type that has a UV-blocking function. And isn’t super cheap so it actually blocks most if not all of it. Chinese Plastic Crap still is crap.[3]

Covering Clothes

Breathing but covering clothes are going to be your friend. If you think I will go in the middle of the summer in shorts out there and sandals you are crazy. I will still have some level of cover even if I have to stay cool and show off some skin. That nice big hat, silly as it looks, will keep much of the sun away from you. I know big hats look silly at first but if you can rock the look and make it your own it is awesome. That or maybe a smaller type of hat, something that offers some protection.

Problem Solving

Now that sounds simple, but the reality isn’t so simple, just read the other blog[2]. Trying to get people to understand you like it inside and in the shadows is very hard.

Worse, depending on how a school is built and ran you might be in some real issues. Look, vampirism can’t be determined by a doctor, you can’t get on paper. “He/She is a vampire and needs shadow and inside time.” No, you have to realize your problems might be too vague to be given attention. All of us have had to use tricks and persuasion.

There always will be situations where you have to brave the sun in, sports days at schools, and the weather is lovely. That trip to the beach, summer camp and if you are older, work and study. There will be times you are stuck out there in the sun and have to deal with all it entails. And sadly I can’t really solve all the problems with a simple blog. But at least, this should give you something to think about.

Find little solutions here and there. Sometimes you are F-ed by the situation, sometimes you can find yourself a bit of shadow or stay inside. And sometimes you are in control of what happens.

As much as my plants love sun and water, I stick with staying inside. Till it is shady enough and colder in the night so I can give them water.

Resources

[1] Porphyria; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/porphyria/symptoms-causes/syc-20356066

[2] The Porcelain Vampire; https://theporcelainvampirespeaks.blogspot.com/

[3]Sunglasses and UV Protection: https://www.allaboutvision.com/askdoc/sunglasses.htm

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Copyright: Masticina Akicta 2019