Tips to protect your skin this summer

Here's everything you need to know about sunscreens and a few tips to live down the blaze

Being as close to the equator as we are, we tend to have a love-hate relationship with summers.

Where months from May through August set the perfect tone for beach escapades, and serious poolside lounging, we emerge in December sunburned, tanned and acned, having borne the brunt of a blazing sun, merciless power outages and distant promises of rainfall.

The irony of the fact is that we obsess demonically over ‘fair and lovely’ skin, yet we do nothing to protect our own from the damaging impact of frequent sun exposure.

What is tanning and sunburn?

It may come as a surprise to many, but sunburns do not mean the sun is specifically out to get you. Rather, it is your own skin’s reaction to unabated sun exposure. The first exposure renders the skin red which occurs due to increased blood flow to the area as the body mounts its defense mechanism.

Sunburn occurs six to twelve hours post exposure, leading to tenderness, swelling and dryness of skin as the body goes about fixing the damage rendered to the cells by exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiations.

The first sun exposure renders the skin red. PHOTO: BEAUTYLISH

Extreme thermal exposure can cause second degree burns which are marked by water filled blisters, pain and an itch so bad it has been referred to as ‘hell’s itch’.

The body literally burns itself to get rid of cells that could become cancerous. However, as more and more cells are killed off, skin loses it bouncy appearance, becomes wrinkled and ages prematurely. Over time, the body’s defense weakens and sunburns give way to skin cancer and melanomas.

Take a cue from nature

Sunscreen prevents UVA and UVB radiations from damaging the skin. However, the process of their selection and use is more complicated than buying an average skin cream.

Sunscreen must be chosen on the basis of its Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Generally, SPF between 15 and 50 is considered good for protecting against UVB radiation but does little for the UVA radiations.

Sunscreen prevents UVA and UVB radiations from damaging the skin. PHOTO: ZMESCIENCE

This is how it works:

SPF 15 blocks up to 94% of UVB light and can allow you to stay out in the sun for approximately 150 minutes, or 15 times longer than the time it takes for your skin to start reddening.

SPF 30 blocks up to 97% UVB light but does not mean you can spend longer than 5 hours in the sun.

Sunscreen must be chosen on the basis of its Sun Protection Factor (SPF). PHOTO: ITHAPPENSININDIA

SPF 45 blocks 98% UVB light.

Broad spectrum sunscreen prevents damage from UVA radiations as well as UVB radiations, something traditional sunscreens can’t do. Try to look for ingredients such as ecamsule, avobenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.



Stay away from these products

1. Sunscreens that advertise to be waterproof are duping buyers. Best sunscreens are water resistant, not water proof, and that too for 40 minutes underwater.

2. SPF greater than 50: It’s a hoax and does not do much for skin protection.

Best sunscreens are water resistant, not water proof. PHOTO: MEDSRPING

3. Ingredients such as oxybenzone, methyl parabene, propyl parabene, butylparabene and vitamin A also called retinyl palmitate, all of which pose varying degree of skin cancer risks.

The key to effective prevention is in even application. Aim to apply roughly 2gm/cm² of skin and reapply every two hours for better results. Under-applying sunscreen cuts back on the SPF factor by its square root so applying half or quarter of SPF 30 gives you effective SPF of 5.5 only!



Tips to live down the blaze

You can take further precaution to avoid getting sizzled.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Don’t pick on the blistering skin which could cause infection.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. PHOTO: MTLBLOG

Avoid the double burn and stay out of the sun between 11:00am and 4:00pm.

Take a cool shower to help with itching but leave the soap out.

Moisturise the peeling, dead skin to help regain normal colour and tone.