Blocking out sun in the city
15 May 2012 8:41 AM GMT
After a very pleasant April, the scorching heat is finally back to haunt Delhiites. While summer means increasing electricity bills thanks to constantly running ACs and coolers, summery white cottons, mangoes and watermelons, it also brings along its share of skincare problems.
You can’t but go out in the sun, and even though you are armed with sunscreens, tanning is an inevitable process which irks people to no end. And even though a lot of people love working up a tan, doctors say a tan is not healthy.
‘A tan is a sign that damage has been done to our skin. When exposed to the sun’s UV rays, our skin’s melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that creates a tan. A tan is our skin’s attempt to prevent UV rays from doing any further damage to the sensitive skin cells in your epidermis,’ says Dr Varun Katyal, consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist.
Cover yourself with a thin fabric, wear sunshades and hats when you go out or use an umbrella, advises Dr Poonam Bali, dermatologist. Dr Simal Soin, dermatologist, feels that sunscreen should be applied and reapplied every 3-4 hours. ‘Avoid peak hours and keep yourself covered. If you have to be out then apply calamine on your face when you come back home. The sun is the commonest cause of aging,’ she says.
‘When sunrays hit human skin, much of them are scattered, however a considerable amount of energy is absorbed which in turn causes damage to the cell’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which in turn triggers a response that can lead to cancer, eye damage or blindness. The most common injury to ultraviolet radiation is sunburn,' says Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetologist.
‘You should always use an appropriate broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher everyday. Apply sunscreen to the all those areas of your body, which remain exposed to the sun. If you are playing or swimming, find a sunscreen that is water-resistant, and remember to reapply more often if you’re sweating or after towelling off,’ says Dr Katyal.
One should apply sunscreen liberally at least 30 minutes before going out. ‘Also avoid moving out in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. This is the time when both the types of UV rays i.e. UVA and UVB reach the earth surface to the maximum and may result in tanning of skin,’ adds Dr Katyal.
However, if you have tanned already, use a pack of mashed papaya and fresh yoghurt in equal quantities, to which you have added 1tsp honey, says Dr Bali. ‘Use it on your skin regularly,’ she says.
Dr Soin advises going for procedures like microdermabrasion or any other exfoliation treatments. ‘Hydro facials, diamond polishing, whitening facials and peels gradually remove the tan,’ she says.
Exfoliation is essential, says Dr Katyal. ‘Facial scrubs and masks may help lift off the dead, dull, sun-damaged skin cells revealing the healthier skin below. This will help brighten your complexion and remove the tan,’ he says. Depending on your skin type, exfoliate once a week if you have dry skin type and twice a week if you don’t have dry skin. Use a mild facial exfoliator for the face and a good body scrub.
Also eat food containing anti-oxidants. Keep yourself hydrated at all times and drink plenty of water and fruits which have high water content like coconut water, cucumber and watermelon to prevent the skin from dehydrating.
You can’t but go out in the sun, and even though you are armed with sunscreens, tanning is an inevitable process which irks people to no end. And even though a lot of people love working up a tan, doctors say a tan is not healthy.
‘A tan is a sign that damage has been done to our skin. When exposed to the sun’s UV rays, our skin’s melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that creates a tan. A tan is our skin’s attempt to prevent UV rays from doing any further damage to the sensitive skin cells in your epidermis,’ says Dr Varun Katyal, consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist.
Cover yourself with a thin fabric, wear sunshades and hats when you go out or use an umbrella, advises Dr Poonam Bali, dermatologist. Dr Simal Soin, dermatologist, feels that sunscreen should be applied and reapplied every 3-4 hours. ‘Avoid peak hours and keep yourself covered. If you have to be out then apply calamine on your face when you come back home. The sun is the commonest cause of aging,’ she says.
‘When sunrays hit human skin, much of them are scattered, however a considerable amount of energy is absorbed which in turn causes damage to the cell’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which in turn triggers a response that can lead to cancer, eye damage or blindness. The most common injury to ultraviolet radiation is sunburn,' says Dr Mohan Thomas, senior cosmetologist.
‘You should always use an appropriate broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher everyday. Apply sunscreen to the all those areas of your body, which remain exposed to the sun. If you are playing or swimming, find a sunscreen that is water-resistant, and remember to reapply more often if you’re sweating or after towelling off,’ says Dr Katyal.
One should apply sunscreen liberally at least 30 minutes before going out. ‘Also avoid moving out in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. This is the time when both the types of UV rays i.e. UVA and UVB reach the earth surface to the maximum and may result in tanning of skin,’ adds Dr Katyal.
However, if you have tanned already, use a pack of mashed papaya and fresh yoghurt in equal quantities, to which you have added 1tsp honey, says Dr Bali. ‘Use it on your skin regularly,’ she says.
Dr Soin advises going for procedures like microdermabrasion or any other exfoliation treatments. ‘Hydro facials, diamond polishing, whitening facials and peels gradually remove the tan,’ she says.
Exfoliation is essential, says Dr Katyal. ‘Facial scrubs and masks may help lift off the dead, dull, sun-damaged skin cells revealing the healthier skin below. This will help brighten your complexion and remove the tan,’ he says. Depending on your skin type, exfoliate once a week if you have dry skin type and twice a week if you don’t have dry skin. Use a mild facial exfoliator for the face and a good body scrub.
Also eat food containing anti-oxidants. Keep yourself hydrated at all times and drink plenty of water and fruits which have high water content like coconut water, cucumber and watermelon to prevent the skin from dehydrating.
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