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Published on January 8, 2008

Sun protection in the form of broad-spectrum sunscreens, wearing a broad-brimmed hat and clothes, using a parasol and staying out of the sun at certain times of the day are all factors that will help protect against skin cancer. Try to avoid long periods of time in the sun, and avoid exposing your skin as much as possible between the hours of 10am and 4pm. If you have to go to the pool or the beach, wear a waterproof or sweat-proof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours.

It's safer if you swim early in the morning or late in the afternoon and carefully limit your time in the midday sun, when rays are strongest and most capable of causing sunburn and damage.

 

Hi. I'm going out to the beach during the holidays. Is there a safe way I can get a suntan?

No. The only known safe way to tan is with self-tanners - creams or lotions that you can apply to the skin to give it a golden glow without any of the damage from sun exposure.

Tanning occurs when the sun's ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin's outer layer, which causes the skin to produce more melanin (the brown colour in skin) as a response to injury.

Though tanning booths will often say that they offer safe tanning, you should be wary of such claims.

Self-tanning creams, however, are safe. They work by staining only the outer dead layer of skin cells, leaving the living tissue beneath unharmed.

How should I treat a sunburn?

First-degree burns are red and will usually heal (after some peeling) within a few days. The pain can be treated with cool baths. Applying a non-irritating moisturiser may make you more comfortable. Aspirin or Ibuprofen taken early in the development of a sunburn may help to speed recovery, as a result of these medications anti-inflammatory properties.

Second-degree sunburns should be considered a medical emergency if a large area is affected. If a sunburn is severe, it may be accompanied by headaches, chills or fever, and medical attention should be sought right away. Be sure to protect your skin from the sun while it heals, as repeated burns are associated with a greater risk of skin cancer.

Thanisorn Thamlikitkul, MD, is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology & Aesthetic Surgery and qualified in laser surgery. Send your question to info@romrawin.com. Her column appears twice-monthly on the Health and Beauty page.

by thanisorn thamlikitkul, md

The Nation