Doctor’s tips: Keeping your skin safe in the sun
Whether it’s picnicking, golfing, swimming, gardening or just relaxing on the grass, summer (and even the spring here in Beijing) brings with it a host of fun outdoor activities. As you enjoy yourself outside, be safe and don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun’s powerful rays.
While the sun provides us with vitamin D and is important to our overall health, its rays also contain damaging cancer-causing components known as ultraviolet (UV) rays. These consist of ultraviolet B (UVB), which causes sunburn, and ultraviolet A (UVA), which causes aging of the skin.
At its worst, sun damage inflicted by UVB and UVA can lead to skin cancer later in life. Sun damage accumulates over time, so the sooner you start to protect yourself, the less damage you will get.
The majority of sun damage, however, actually occurs by the age of 20. For this reason it is vital that you protect your children from the sun’s rays.
You don’t need to hide from the sun completely, but it is important that you take protective measures; your greatest protection is always to wear sunscreen when out in the sun, and the effectiveness of a sunscreen is rated by its Sun Protection Factor, or SPF.
The higher the SPF, the fewer sun rays will reach your skin. If you have fair skin you will need to use a sunscreen with a higher SPF (30 or above).
It is important to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out into the sun and then re-apply it every 2 to 3 hours and after swimming. Make sure that you put on enough sunscreen so that it forms a layer on your skin. The current recommended amount of sunscreen to be used is 2 mg/cm2, or about 3 to 4 peanut-sized applications to the area of the face.
While it prevents you from over-exposure to the sun, sunscreen does not protect you 100%; it is therefore important to wear a hat and protective clothing while out in the sun.
Try to avoid outdoor activities between 10am and 3pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. If you are outside during these times, take frequent breaks by going indoors or by moving into the shade.
Sometimes even the best efforts do not go as planned. If you get sunburn, make sure you look after your sun-damaged skin while it repairs itself:
Stay safe out there, and make the most of the great weather!
Dr. Renhua Na
Deputy Director of Center for Clinical Research, Dermatologist
Dr. Zhang has extensive experience in hospital pharmacy, in particular, promoting pharmaceutical care in multi-disciplinary areas and ensuring medication use safety. She is a registered pharmacist in both China and California.
If you have any concerns regarding the health of your skin, Dr. Na and the experienced staff at BJU’s Dermatology department are here to help. Contact our 24-hour appointment hotline on (010) 4008-919191 to schedule a consultation.