Do you remember the time when your parents took you to the beach and the only protection they applied was NIVEA cream from the blue pot, or if you were particularly fair skinned they left you in a T-shirt for a while whilst you were making sand castles? Nivea was, and indeed is, a very good cream for dry skin, but not for sun protection, it contains no sunscreen! Fortunately, we have moved on from those days and nowadays there are noticeably fewer appointments for cases of sunburn in children, today parents aware that taking care of their children’s skin is essential for their future health.
The same tendency has also been observed in adults. “Now people are aware that not just melanoma but also skin ageing is related to sun exposure,” explains the Dermatology Department at HC Marbella.
Adolescents and young adults – the focus of dermatologists attention.
The lack of interest from adolescents and young adults regarding sun protection worries dermatologists greatly. This disinterest is especially unusual as they belong to a generation which has grown up with unlimited access to information. Perhaps it is due to their age, not yet having responsibility for young children and not yet feeling the threat of ageing. Having a tan and looking good is more important to them than their health.
Melanoma: when skin neither forgives nor forgets.
80% of the solar radiation reaching our skin is received before the age of 18, therefore adolescence is key to avoiding skin damage.
“Skin damage caused by exposure to the sun is accumulative, therefore the patients we are seeing with skin cancer now are those who have had sunburn in the past,” explains Dr. del Boz from the Dermatology Department, meaning adults who had excessive sun exposure in childhood and adolescence are those who are now suffering the consequences. For example it is occurring in people who were born between 1940 and 1960, a time when no one was aware of the dangerous effects of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, in fact to make matters worse, healthcare professionals at that time believed that the sun was beneficial in every sense. Nowadays we know that around 80% of skin cancer cases could have been prevented.
1. Using sunscreen to prolong sun exposure time. Sunscreen protects well against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which produces sunburn, but this is not the whole picture. There are some sunscreens which do not protect against ultraviolet A or infra-red radiation, as a result damage is caused and we see the long-term effects: wrinkles and cancer. Equally, sunscreen is rarely applied in the correct manner, also reducing its effectiveness. For this reason relying completely on sunscreen for very prolonged exposure to the sun is a mistake. Sunscreen is not the best method of protection from the sun.
2. Sunbathing around the middle of the day. How many times have our children asked us permission to stay at the beach and eat with their friends? And then they arrive home with a sunburnt back from taking a siesta in the sun, having forgotten to apply sunscreen? The hours in the middle of the day are the most dangerous, with the highest intensity radiation.
3. Reapplying sunscreen when sweating or wet. Although sunscreen might be water resistant, the resistance is limited and the effect starts to be lost when dried or rubbed with a towel; it is much better and much more prudent to dry off after each swim and then reapply.
4. Not applying the correct amount. We know that, on average, between a quarter and a half of the recommended amount is usually applied. This therefore actually halves or quarters the sun protection factor. For this reason it is recommended to always use sunscreen with a factor of 30 or above.
5. Not applying sunscreen when already tanned. Do not lower your guard! ALTHOUGH dark or very tanned skin has a higher sun resistance and does not go red or burn, this does not mean it is protected from the damaging effects of solar radiation.
These are only a few examples. If you have any concerns that a mole has changed shape or colour, or you have a wound that does not heal, or even if a new skin lesion appears, it is always better to consult a dermatologist. In this way if there is a problem with your skin, it can be detected and treated quickly in the easiest way possible.
July 11, 2021
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