Sun Safety:

Excessive sun-exposure can lead to loss of moisture from the skin, dark patches and even premature aging. The skin needs physical protection against harmful rays which is provided by sunscreens. A few tips on buying and using sunscreen lotions:
• A good sunscreen should provide protection against the sun's UVA and UVB rays.
• Check the SPF or Sun Protection Factor on the label. This is denoted by a number and is related to duration of sun-exposure. If your skin is more sensitive, choose a sunscreen with SPF of 20 and above.
• Apply the sunscreen about 20 minutes before sun-exposure. This gives the skin time to absorb it.
• Carry your sunscreen while holidaying by the sea or in the hills. Reflective surfaces, like water and snow actually increase the effects of UV radiation.
• Reapply sunscreen if you stay in the sun for a long time. It's a good idea to carry one in your handbag.
• Rubbing a mix of papaya, cream and sugar into the skin before your bath is also said to remove skin tan.
• Juice of ripe tomatoes when applied over tanned body parts helps in getting rid of the tan!

To avoid tan and an oily face during summers avoid being under the harsh rays of direct sunlight as much as possible. It would also help to use a good sunscreen on your face with SPF (sun protection factor) ranging from 20 to 40. If your job demands that you remain outdoors for a major portion of the day, reapply sun tan half way through the day (but do wash away the grime that would have settled on your skin before reapplication). Avoid usage of an oily cream on your face, as more than doing good it could be harmful. Avoid creams especially during the nights since it clogs the pores.

The sun and your skin

These lectures are not meant to replace your physician and are simply provided as a free educational service to all our visitors. If you feel that you have a skin problem, please see your doctor.

Many people, especially redheads with freckles, blondes and those with a fair complexion who burn easily or tan poorly on sun exposure should be warned about the dangers of damage to the skin from sun exposure.  Unfortunately, these warnings often come only after considerable damage has already been inflicted on the skin.

The effect of sunlight over the years is to weather or to prematurely age the skin. While the brown splotches, thinning, wrinkling, drying, and exposure of many prominent tiny blood vessels at the surface in these sun exposed areas are of primarily cosmetic importance, certain scaling red spots, called ACTINIC KERATOSIS, are in some cases, of more serious significance. These can, in a small number of cases, become skin cancers.

An actinic keratosis can be said to be "going to college" to learn to become a skin cancer. Fortunately, natural skin defense mechanisms assure that the "drop out rate" is high. If they look like they are going to graduate and become skin cancers, they will have to be treated with local destructive techniques. These techniques may include surgery, freezing with liquid gases, certain acids, electrosurgery, and recently through the applications of certain externally applied medications containing anticancer drugs such as 5-fluorouracil.

When an area of sun damaged skin forms a skin cancer (such as a BASAL CELL OR SQUAMOUS CELL SKIN CANCER), they are usually only invasive into the local area where they are growing. For this type of cancer to spread to other areas of the body by the blood stream or lymph channels is unusual. Just like a "bad spot" on an apple, they can be cut off and the rest of the fruit is still good. Because of the mild character of these cancers in early stages, they are the form of cancer best able to be cured by early diagnosis and treatment.

SUNLIGHT IS A FORM OF X-RAY

The damage to the skin which results from sun exposure, like x-ray, will accumulate with exposure over the years. The effect is forever stored in the memory of the skin and cannot be erased. The effect of sun damage today is only seen in years to come.

IF YOU STOP ALL FURTHER UNNECESSARY SUN EXPOSURE YOU WILL PROBABLY STILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SKIN CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. BUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO INSULT THE ALREADY DAMAGED SKIN BY ADDITIONAL IMPROPER SUN EXPOSURE YOU WILL CERTAINLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF SUN DAMAGED SKIN

1. A patient with sun damaged skin should visit his or her clinician at least once a year for a thorough examination of the skin in light exposed areas.

2. A patient who has had a skin cancer with a sun damaged skin should keep all follow-up visits until the cancer is pronounced cured. After that, since he or she has a better than average chance of getting another skin cancer, he or she should be seen at least once a year for a similar examination.

3. Any skin growth in a sun exposed area which does not heal, bleeds, or keeps growing in size should be examined.

4. Avoid needless sun exposure whenever possible. Plan your recreational and nonessential outdoor activities for before 10 in the morning and after 3 in the afternoon. This is especially true in the months from April through October. Between the hours of 10 and 3, even the best sun protective lotion will not give adequate protection against the damaging rays. They are like wearing only underwear to keep you warm in Antarctica.

5. Use a sun protective lotion on all sun exposed areas from April through October.

6. Wear hats and protective clothing whenever possible in addition to using the sun protective lotions to shield the skin from the sun.

 

Skin Enemies:

Every day, your complexion works to defend itself from a host of aggressors - discover the most common and find out what you can do to save your skin

UV Light
We should all know by now that excessive sun exposure can be skin ageing and dehydrating - if you've ever been to a Mediterranean island and noticed the sun-damaged, prune-like faces of the local fishermen, you'll understand what we mean. However, the good news is you don't have to end up looking like said fishermen, so long as you take action to protect your skin in the sun, and that doesn't just mean on the beach, as UV rays reach you even on cloudy days in the city; apparently, 90 per cent of sun damage occurs on a daily basis. Experts recommend an SPF of 15+, worn every day of the year, to protect your skin from ageing UVA rays. Fair skin types should be looking at sun protection of 25+, and all skin types should take into account the sun's intensity before choosing a suitable sun protection product.

Pollution and the Environment
The environment in which we live has become a threat to our skin, and pollution is a significant enemy, coating our skin in grime and clogging our pores. And wherever there are motor vehicles there is pollution, so don't think that by living the rural life you are immune. Take action by using a good moisturiser containing UV protection and antioxidants, and by wearing make-up which acts as a barrier and prevents any nasties reaching your skin. At the end of the day, cleanse thoroughly to remove every last trace of make-up and dirt. Continually moving from centrally heated to air conditioned atmospheres can also be a source of complexion confusion, which is why skin often acts differently from season to season. Struggling to maintain its moisture levels and pH balance, skin will eventually become dry and dehydrated, so treat it in a similar way to how you dress to suit the temperature outside - use a richer moisturising cream or barrier product when it's cold, and a lighter lotion when the weather is warmer.

Stress and Lack of Sleep
Everyone suffers from the occasional bout of stress, but when emotions spiral out of control, your skin is among the first organs to suffer. Dryness, sensitivity, spots and excess oil are the external signs of internal stress, while constant frowning can lead to deep-set facial creases and lines which only surgery will be able to rectify, so it pays to learn how to wind down and chill out at the end of a hard day. Switch on the answer phone and try a little meditation, yoga, an aromatherapy bath or treat yourself to a massage or the latest blockbuster; all are effective de-stressers that are easy on the pocket and relatively simple to incorporate into the most hectic of weeks. Plenty of sleep is essential for good skin, as burning the candle at both ends will inevitably result in a tired and drawn complexion. If your sleepless nights are not due to all-night clubbing sessions, try cutting out caffeine after 6pm, and have a hot bath containing a few drops of lavender essential oil, followed by a milky drink. Take a book to bed and read until you feel tired (nothing work-related though), and you should be in la-la land in no time at all...

Smoking
Chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage the appearance of the skin permanently. Tobacco smoke restricts blood vessels, reducing the amount of blood flowing to the skin, and therefore depleting it of oxygen and nutrients. Smoking also produces free radicals which trigger an inflammatory response throughout the body, ultimately ageing you faster - in general, people who smoke tend to look up to a third older than those of the same age who do not smoke. The habit also thins, dehydrates and reduces collagen levels in the skin, which is needed for a plump, youthful look. Antioxidants are required, so step up intake of vitamins A, C and E, take nutritional supplements and apply products containing ingredients such as green and white tea and vitamins for an added boost. However, no amount of pills or products will guard against future damage, because every cigarette you smoke depletes the levels of vitamins and antioxidants in your body, so it's time to kick the habit for the sake of your looks and your health. Allen Carr's Easy way to Stop Smoking Clinics have a 90 per cent success rate, and take a unique approach by focusing on why we do smoke, instead of why we shouldn't smoke.

Alcohol
Ever suffered with a red, blotchy or spotty complexion the morning after a full-on night out? It's no wonder post-party skin often flares up, when you consider that a heavy drinking session puts the body's detoxification system into overdrive, and a direct strain on the liver, kidneys and skin, all of which have to suddenly deal with and filter out a huge amount of additional toxins. While you may or may not be regretting that last vodka shot of the evening, your body will be crying out for water, so work on rehydrating your skin both internally and externally by applying a hydrating or detoxifying face mask when you get in or the following morning, and downing a couple of pints of water, both of which should soon get you back on track.