Skin professionals know the importance of sunscreen and use it consistently – they talk the talk and walk the walk while encouraging clients to do the same. They know that the way to successfully encourage sunscreen use is through educating and informing about ingredients, formulations, and application techniques. But does the rest of the world approach the necessity of sunscreen use the same way? On a global scale, is sun protection considered as important as licensed professionals know it to be? Are sun care products formulated in Europe the same as products from the United States or South Korea? Is skin cancer a widespread concern across the globe? 

THE BRONZE ERA

Going back to the 1980s and 1990s, it was incredibly common to lie in the sun with a bottle of baby oil or tanning oil with a weak sun protection factor, if any. Whether it was friends, mom, or the professional themselves, it seems almost everyone was partaking in sunbathing with no significant sun protection anywhere to be seen. Having a bronze tan was the desired look for many years and in many ways, still is. Many people feel more attractive and comfortable in their skin with a tan which has created a common argument against the consistent use of quality sunscreen. 

Even while a good number of people were baking in the sun, research about the risks and dangers of tanning were becoming widespread. The link between ultraviolet (UV) rays and skin cancer was found and acknowledged. Coincidentally or not, this is also when melanoma and other skin cancers began to rise. 

Alisha Shumake is a licensed aesthetician of 15 years and owner of The More You Glow in Detroit, Michigan. She obtained a degree in small business management and has worked in a variety of different roles in the aesthetics industry such as sales, salons, and medical spas. Shumake decided to take the step into entrepreneurship in 2020, opening The More You Glow. In addition to providing corrective and age management-based treatments, she also strives to educate clients in product knowledge and the latest in treatment advancements to accomplish their skin care goals.