THACKLEY TRUMPIT JULY 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - BE SMART IN THE SUN

Health Matters - Be smart in the sun

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

How does the sun damage skin?

Sunlight is made up of different types of radiation: the Visible part which we see, the infrared part which we feel as heat and the one we cannot see or feel - Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  It’s this ultraviolet (UV) radiation that damages skin cells. There are two types of UV rays UVA and UVB. Both types cause skin cell damage and skin cancer and it is UVA that is responsible for sunburn. So as the Aussies say Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide.

Slip on sun protective clothing 

Cover up with clothing made of a closely woven material such as cotton, polycotton or linen to block out the sunlight. If we can see through it, the UV can get through.
Remember wet clothes let through more UV than dry clothes.

Slop on a sunscreen with at least SPF15

The higher the SPF the greater the protection from UVB, children and those with pale skin should use SPF30.
Choose a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen which means it protects against both UVB & UVA rays. The UVA star rating should be 4 or 5.
Apply generously – around 2 teaspoons for your head, arms & neck at least 2 tablespoons to cover exposed skin if you’re in your swimming gear.
Re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours – it comes off through washing, sweating etc.
Re-apply after swimming even if it’s labelled waterproof.
Watch out for those easy to miss areas – lips, ears, around your eyes, neck, scalp particularly if the hair is thinning, backs of hands and feet.
Health Matters - Be Smart in the Sun 
by Nick Parmar - Senior Pharmacist at Thackley Pharmacy

Slap on a hat

A broad brimmed hat gives good protection for the neck, face, nose and ears – the areas most commonly affected by sun damage.

Seek shade

The UV radiation is most intense between 11am and 3pm.  Even when we find a shady spot we still need to use other sun protection because the UV rays are reflected off surfaces around us such as sand, water and concrete.

Slide on some sunglasses

The sun can burn/damage the eyes. Sunglasses offer good protection but not all of them are adequate – look for a pair that has one of the following:
The ‘CE Mark’ and British standard BS EN 1836:1997
A UV400 label
A statement that the sunglasses offer 100% UV protection.

Did you Know ?

Sunscreens can go off - so check the use by date printed on the bottle. Most have a shelf life of 2-3 years.
Being kept in the sun can cause the sunscreen to deteriorate and become less effective – avoid buying sunscreen that has been kept on the shelf in direct sunlight or outside when abroad. Keep your sunscreen in the shade.
You can burn in the water – even if you are swimming in a pool or snorkelling in the sea
Clouds can give a false sense of security - UV radiation from sunshine still comes through thin cloud
The sun’s rays are more powerful at high altitudes – so even though it’s cooler up the mountain you will need more skin protection
There is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the skin’s  response to the sun’s damaging rays and is therefore an    indicator of the amount of sun damage.
Sun beds are just as damaging as sunshine.

For further help and information www.sunsmart.org.uk run by Cancer Research, the UK’s national skin cancer prevention campaign.