National Stay Out of the Sun Day - July 3, 2024

History of National Stay Out of the Sun Day

The practice of shielding our skin from the sun has roots that run deep in our history, evolving greatly from ancient to modern times.

In the times of Ancient Egypt, natives would utilize nature’s offerings to protect their skin. They applied oils from sesame, castor, and lavender plants as well as extracts from rice and lupine plants. They also used dark clay as a natural sunscreen.

In Far East traditions, particularly in Japan and China, sun avoidance was perceived not only as a health precaution but also as an indicator of social status. A light skin tone was esteemed because it demonstrated wealth and a lack of need for manual labor, which was typically carried out in the sun. Consequently, they utilized items like wide-brimmed hats, parasols, and long-sleeved clothing for shielding from sunlight. The iconic heavy, white makeup of Geishas in Japan was also an effective form of sun protection.

Toward the mid-twentieth century, Austrian scientist Franz Greiter made strides by producing the first commercial sunscreen known as “Glacier Cream” in 1938 with an estimated SPF value of 2. He also pioneered the SPF measurement system which is universally used today.

Notably, during the 1940s and 1950s, the trend in Western societies, influenced by Hollywood, shifted towards favoring a suntanned appearance as a sign of health and wealth. As this trend grew, sunscreen products were innovated to prevent sunburn while enabling users to achieve a tan.

Modern sun protection recommendations are endorsed by reputable organizations like the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization, which promote not only the usage of high-SPF sunscreens but also encourage wearing protective sunglasses, clothing and avoiding the rays of the midday sun. The concept of sun protection has been integrated into everyday items such as cosmetic products and lens coatings.