Hamburg - The first strong rays of sunshine after the dark
winter months lure many people outside, and as they sun themselves
the light prompts their bodies to produce feel-good hormones and
vitamin D to stimulate their nervous system.
But the sun's rays are also dangerous as is evidenced by sunburn.
The UV rays destroy or alter cell nuclei. The skin can compensate
only for part of the damage before it turns red, even when it has its
own level of protection.
This level of protection varies depending on skin type and the
intensity of the sunlight. It's about 20 minutes for skin that has
little or no natural brown. Therefore, the skin needs extra
protection. A good way to protect the skin from the UV rays that can
cause a burn is to avoid intense sunlight, said Swen Malte John,
professor of dermatology at the Osnabrück university.
The most intense sunlight occurs at midday in the height of
summer. But the sun can be strong enough at other times of day to
seriously damage the skin.
It is nearly impossible to completely protect the body from
sunlight, especially during a summer vacation.
'Clothing should cover as much skin as possible,' said Heidrun
Holstein, a medical specialist at Germany's consumer centre in
Karlsruhe. She recommends wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts
made of light material and UV-proof material that lets in only a
fraction of sunlight.
Those parts of the skin which are not covered by clothing, such as
the face and hands, should be protected with sunblock. The most
important criteria when selecting a sunblock is skin type. People
with darker complexions have a higher level of protection in their
skin and can thus select a lower protection factor, said Holstein.
Generally, the sun protection factor (SPF), should be 15 or
higher. When going to the beach or into a snowy setting, where the
sunlight is reflected, a higher SPF is recommended. It also helps to
check the UV index, which places a numerical value on the expected
peak sunburn-causing UV rays. In some countries it's possible to find
the forecast UV index on the internet, and sometimes the index is
given as part of the weather report.
A sunblock's description should also contain a few key words and
should indicate that the product protects not only against UV-B rays,
but also UV-A. It also should provide some information about whether
the product is water resistant.
There also are major differences in the ingredients of sunblocks.
Dermatologists recommend so-called physical protection. Such products
contain crystals made of micro-sized minerals that reflect UV rays,
said John. The more chemical substances contained in the product, the
greater the risk of an allergic reaction.
After exposure to sunlight the skin needs calm and care.
'A cool bath or a cold shower is especially good,' said Grohn.
'Then use a moisturizing lotion or gel with a high amount of aloe
vera.'
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