After what seemed like a long winter and a dull spring, summer is finally here. Most of us think of summer as a time to be warm and carefree while on vacation at the beach or somewhere far away and exotic. We need the sun to live. It has many health benefits, such as affecting the amount of vitamin D in our bodies, controlling chemicals that make us feel good, and helping to keep our mood stable. Dr Hera’s Skin & Hair Clinic is where you can make an appointment with the best skin doctor in Roorkee.
But did you know that 90% of visible skin aging is caused by UV radiation? Most people don’t know how much the sun changes the way their skin looks, even if they don’t tan or get sunburned. Unfortunately, many young people think they can’t get hurt and don’t need to worry about sun protection. They care more about looking tanned than about getting dark spots on their skin or skin cancer. On the other hand, many seniors don’t think it’s important to wear sunscreen daily because “the damage has already been done.”
But the truth is that damage from the sun gets worse over time. Whether you are 16 or 60, if you don’t wear sunscreen, you let the sun’s harmful rays touch your skin. Dermatology doctors tell people of all ages to protect their skin from the sun.
Here are ten important things you can do this summer to protect your skin.
The most obvious piece of advice is to stay out of the direct sun between 12 and 4 p.m. when the sun’s effects are at their worst.
Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect yourself daily. Use a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB), water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more for long activities outside.
Put 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen on your whole body 30 minutes before you go outside.
Apply more sunscreen every two hours or right after swimming or sweating.
Remember to check the tops of your ears and the back of your neck, which are common places for pigmented patches and cancers. Because the skin on the face is thin and often exposed to UV rays, it is important to put on sunscreen.
Keep an eye out for indirect or diffuse UV light, radiation that clouds and other air scatter on a cloudy day, and radiation reflected from UV-reflective surfaces. Sand, for instance, reflects 15% more UV light than water, which only reflects up to 10%. Even when sitting in the shade of a tree or an umbrella, we still get a lot of UV light from the side. Dr Hera’s Skin & Hair Clinic is where to go to make an appointment with a skin specialist doctor in Roorkee.
Clothing is the best way to protect you from the sun. It is our first defense against the sun’s UV rays, which could hurt us. In general, it’s better to cover as much skin as possible. The best sun protection materials are tightly woven or knitted and made of synthetic or semi-synthetic fibers, such as polyester and rayon. The clothes will keep you safer if they are darker. The best protection comes from hats with a three-inch or wider brim that goes around to shade the face, neck, ears, and even the top of the shoulders. Choose sunglasses that cover your eyes, eyelids, and the area around them as much as possible. The packaging should say that they block 99–100% of all UV radiation.
Remember that glass filters UVB rays but not UVA rays when traveling by plane, train, or car. Windshields are usually coated to block some UVA, while windows for passengers are not. You might want to put clear UV-blocking window film in your car for long-term peace of mind.
Be careful of photosensitivity, a condition in which the sun and certain drugs or medicines cause skin inflammation. One of the signs is redness of the skin, which may look like sunburn. Some of the most common drugs that make people more sensitive to light are antibiotics, malaria treatments, and diabetes drugs, to name a few. Read the labels on the drugs you take. If you are taking a drug that says it could make your skin sensitive to light, take extra care and go to the hospital immediately if you have an unwanted skin reaction.
Suppose you are using skin treatments to get rid of pigmentation. In that case, it is safer and more effective to use skin-lightening creams or creams with AHA in the evening or at night when the sun isn’t making your melanocytes, the cells that make pigment, work.
When done regularly, a self-skin inspection can help you notice changes in your skin and help you find skin cancer early. It should be done often enough to become a habit but not so often that it becomes a bother. Most people only need to see a doctor once a month.
Visit your dermatologist often for a thorough look at your skin. This is also true for people who have dark skin. Despite what most people think, skin pigmentation problems and skin cancer can happen to people of any race, ethnicity, or skin color. We give out prescriptions for field procedures, like a chemical peel, that can be used to treat a larger area.
It is much better to stay on top of things and be proactive. Everyone looks their best when they have natural, bright, healthy skin. When you can, you speed up the signs of aging and your risk of skin cancer, whether inside or outside.
Let your skin fade to its natural color on parts of your body that don’t get much or any sun, like the inside of your arms, to protect it and make it look brighter. This is the unique, beautiful color of your skin that comes from the sun. Combining regular exercise, a healthy diet, and frequent skin treatments with a dermatologist to keep pigmentation at bay will help your skin stay bright and shiny over time.
It’s always possible to start taking better care of your skin. A simple first step is to wear sunscreen every day. This will help reverse sun damage and protect your skin from premature aging and damage. Dr Hera’s Skin & Hair Clinic is where to go to make an appointment with a skin specialist doctor in Roorkee.