Sunburn

      A sunburn is pretty self explanatory. Our skin turns red, gets irritated and eventually burns with over exposure to the sun. Sun damage is caused by Ultraviolet rays and there are two types that affect our body. UVB ( short ultraviolet ) that burn the top layer of the skin. These rays vary by season, location and time of day. 10am - 4pm being the peak hours. The second type ( long ultraviolet ) are called UVA. These penetrate deeper into the skin causing premature aging and suppression of our immune system heightening the risk of cancer.

There are three major factors when determining how quickly a sunburn can begin:
-skin type
-the suns intensity
-how long your exposed to the sun

You will see the first signs of sunburn usually pretty quickly. Your skin will get hot, turn red and feel tender to touch. Once these first signs begin it could take up to 24 hours or longer to see the full effect on your skin.

-Blistering
-Rash
-Chills
-Nausea
-Fever
-Skin Peeling
These symptoms are more sever and can be permanent depending on how much damage has been done.
 

So how do we prevent sunburn and still enjoy the nice weather? 

Protection is key and for most people sunscreen is the go to. A sunscreen that provides SPF ( sun protection factor ) 15 is recommended for daily use. It filteres out approximately 93% of the suns rays and even when your inside UVA penetrates windows and can cause skin damage. A SPF of 30 - 60 is recommended when your spending more time outside in the direct sunlight. The higher SPF blocks 95 - 98% of all incoming UV rays and even though it may seem like a minor increase it can make the world of difference. For those who have a sensitivity to light and a history of skin cancer especially. Infants under the age of six months should not use sunscreen, their skin is highly sensitive no only to the sun but to the chemicals in sunscreen as well.

So which one do you pick? 

There are a few ingredients you should look for when choosing sunscreen. Octylmethoxycinnamate and cinoxate for UVB protection. Oxybenzone and sulisobenzone for UVA. Zinc oxide for UVA spectrum. Also look for the cancer foundations seal of recommendation. 

So is sunscreen enough? 

Sunscreen alone will not completely protect you from the suns harmful rays. Here are a few more helpful hints:

- always have breaks in a shaded area

- use a broad spectrum sunscreen UVA/UVB

- wear a wide brimmed hat and uv sunglasses

- apply one ounce of sunscreen minimum to get the full SPF 

- examine your skin after being in the sun

 

Enjoy the summer

Nathaniel Porter-Gowan,RMT