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Sunlight exposure is one of the main factors involved in skin disorders. This article will review some common sense precautions, when dealing with the sun's rays.
The sun's rays can cause many skin ailments and disorders. Wrinkles, skin cancer and age spots are just a few examples of this. The National Cancer Foundation, the American Association of Dermatology and the American Melanoma Foundation are just a few organizations that have posted guidelines for healthy skin maintenance. Once skin damage is done, there's nothing that can reverse this damage, so prevention is the key. The onset of skin damage, such as cancer, may be slow, but once present, needs to be treated very swiftly. Avoid tanningThere's no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the direct result of skin injury.Tanning occurs when UV light enters the skin and the body tries to protect itself by producing melanin. This melanin production results in skin pigmentation. Exposure to UV rays either directly from the sun or from tanning beds should be avoided. Protection of exposed areas can be done by wearing protective clothing. Wide brimmed hats to protect the face and sunglasses to prevent lens clouding should also be worn. Avoiding sun exposure, between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, when the sun’s rays are the strongest, is advised. Sit in the shade if possible and remember to wear sunscreen in any area that’s near water, snow or sand, since they reflect UV rays, making all more prone to getting sunburn. SunscreenApply a sunscreen of SPF 15 or better on sunny and cloudy days. The sunscreen helps to scatter the UV light from the skin and applying it twenty minutes before going outside, is advised. Application will need to be done several times a day, usually every two hours, especially after swimming or exposure to water. Sunscreen also needs to be applied under clothing as well. A sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection is best. Be sure to apply sunscreen in the winter, since snow can reflect the UV rays directly to exposed body areas. Other tipsAlthough the sun does provide us with vitamin D, getting it from the sun isn’t necessarily a good idea. Vitamin supplements and food are the safer ways to get it. Avoid going into the sun if known allergic reactions to the sun exist. Also, keep in mind, that sunlight can cause reactions with cosmetics, perfumes, sun preparations and topical medicaments. Birth control pills, certain antibiotics, blood pressure, arthritis and anti-depression medication can also induce allergic responses, with sun exposure. Finally certain diseases can worsen with sun exposure. Lupus erythematosus, chicken pox and cold sores are three examples of this. People who are immunocompromised or have had organ transplants need to avoid excess sun exposure, as well. Basically common sense is the main theme. Avoid excessive sun exposure and protect exposed areas with sunscreen and apparel. Avoid going out during the hottest times of the day and be careful when applying cosmetics or taking medications. ReferencesFood and Drug Administration. Sunscreens, Tanning Products, and Sun Safety. 2003. Available at: www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/cos-220.html.
The copyright of the article How to Protect Your Skin in Skin Disease is owned by Cyrus Dehkan. Permission to republish How to Protect Your Skin in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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