Think that tan looks good on you? A suntan is actually the skin’s reaction to an injury inflicted by ultraviolet light rays. Here are some facts about protecting yourself.
July 13, 2006 (Press Release) --
If preventing skin cancer is not enough motivation, there are other benefits to using sunscreen.
Sunscreens help prevent the premature aging of skin from sun exposure; “photoaged” skin tends to be wrinkled and leathery, and has irregular pigmentation. When taking medications that sensitize the skin to sunlight, high SPF sunscreens are helpful though not a total guarantee of protection. Sunscreen also prevents freckles.
Small children need extra protection.
“Children under the age of 6 months have very sensitive skin, and sunscreens are potentially irritating to them,” says Dr. Sandra Read, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. “They are better protected by staying out of the sun, seeking shade, avoiding peak hours of sunlight, and using protective clothing such as hats and long sleeves.” Dr. Read also warns that adults and children should not be fooled by an overcast day, since a full 80 percent of the sun’s radiation still penetrates the clouds.
People with dark skin need sunscreen, too.
“Having more of that pigment, or melanin, is like having a little bit of sunscreen in your skin,” says Dr. Read. “While it may help protect you from an acute burn, it does not protect you from skin cancer or from photoaging. People say, ‘I have a base tan—I’m protected.’ What are you protected from? You might not get a painful first-degree burn, but you’re going to be out in the sun more, so you’re more susceptible to skin cancer.”
Most sunscreens aren’t effective until about 30 minutes after application.
The key ingredient of many sunscreens is PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, which protects the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light. But PABA has to bind to the skin to be fully effective, and that takes about half an hour once the screen has been applied.
Source: http://health.msn.com/
Sunscreens help prevent the premature aging of skin from sun exposure; “photoaged” skin tends to be wrinkled and leathery, and has irregular pigmentation. When taking medications that sensitize the skin to sunlight, high SPF sunscreens are helpful though not a total guarantee of protection. Sunscreen also prevents freckles.
Small children need extra protection.
“Children under the age of 6 months have very sensitive skin, and sunscreens are potentially irritating to them,” says Dr. Sandra Read, a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. “They are better protected by staying out of the sun, seeking shade, avoiding peak hours of sunlight, and using protective clothing such as hats and long sleeves.” Dr. Read also warns that adults and children should not be fooled by an overcast day, since a full 80 percent of the sun’s radiation still penetrates the clouds.
People with dark skin need sunscreen, too.
“Having more of that pigment, or melanin, is like having a little bit of sunscreen in your skin,” says Dr. Read. “While it may help protect you from an acute burn, it does not protect you from skin cancer or from photoaging. People say, ‘I have a base tan—I’m protected.’ What are you protected from? You might not get a painful first-degree burn, but you’re going to be out in the sun more, so you’re more susceptible to skin cancer.”
Most sunscreens aren’t effective until about 30 minutes after application.
The key ingredient of many sunscreens is PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, which protects the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light. But PABA has to bind to the skin to be fully effective, and that takes about half an hour once the screen has been applied.
Source: http://health.msn.com/
Email
Print
SPAM
LEAVE A COMMENT
