AGEING WELL
beware the
glare
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WELLNESS FOR ALL
Take cover According to the Singapore Cancer Society, skin cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the country. In 2010 The Straits Times reported that the most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. “Although it’s been proven that cumulative exposure to the sun increases one’s risk of such types of cancers, some studies suggest that intermittent bursts of intense sun exposure are also detrimental to the skin,” says Dr Aw. What this means is that even the occasional trip to the beach or park on a sunny day can cause damage to your skin if you don’t use adequate sun protection. “Severe and acute sunburns also increase the risk of skin cancer,” says Dr Georgia Lee, director of TLC Lifestyle Practice. Repeated instances of five or more sunburns can double the risk of melanoma — the most common form of skin cancer. It is a disease that is now rising at a rapid rate across the United Kingdom. Barely heard of 20 years ago, it now claims 1,800 lives in the UK a year, and is growing at a faster rate than breast or prostate cancer. On top of skin cancer, constant sun exposure and repeated sunburns also hasten the ageing process of the skin through a process called photoageing.
PHOTO: Getty Images
o you’re jealous of a friend’s sun-‐kissed skin and made a silent vow to embark on the pursuit of the perfect tan. After all, it is relatively easy for us on this island, with its perpetual tropical weather, to achieve that bronze, healthy glow, right? Here’s the glaring truth: there is no such thing as a “healthy tan”. Clinical director and senior consultant at the University Dermatology Clinic, National University Hospital, Dr Derrick Aw says, “Skin tanning is a consequence of excessive sun exposure. It is a protective mechanism of the pigment cells of the skin to ‘over-‐produce’ pigment in order to prevent further sun damage to the skin. Therefore, it can never be considered healthy.” Sun protection is all the more important these days because the thinning of the ozone layer has made everyone more susceptible to skin-‐ damaging ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation. This radiation reaches the earth as long wavelengths known as UVA and short wavelengths known as UVB. Long-‐term exposure to UVA and UVB rays results in cumulative damage to the skin, causing sunburn, and resulting in pain, redness, swelling and peeling. It also increases the risk of skin cells turning abnormal, which could lead to skin cancer.
Despite its life-giving properties, too much sunlight can be damaging to the skin and can sometimes be lethal. By FAIROZA MANSOR
In a report by The Guardian newspaper in 2008, Dr Lesley Rhodes, a photo-‐ dermatologist at the University of Manchester hospital trust, said that over-‐exposure to the sun ages the skin even faster than smoking. Photoageing, according to Dr Aw, is a composite of several features namely pigmentation such as sun spots, wrinkling, looseness and sagging, and coarseness — all of which contribute to a dull appearance, making a person look older than he or she really is.
Slip slop slap Sunburn will usually recover on its own, says Dr Aw. However if it is painful, he advises that you take over-‐the-‐counter paracetamol or other non-‐steroidal anti-‐inflammatory drugs for pain relief. You may also wish to apply cold compresses (with wet towels) a couple of sessions a day, with each session lasting a few minutes before rinsing and reapplying a few more times. “You might also want to wear loose clothing as it is less likely to irritate your skin,” adds Dr Aw. Dr Lee has many clients who have approached her to reverse the effect of sun damage. “They will usually come for treatment of pigmentation like freckles, sun spots or melasma,” she says. Melasma is a skin
OVER-EXPOSURE TO THE SUN AGES THE SKIN EVEN FASTER THAN SMOKING.
discoloration that appears in parts of the body most exposed to the sun. “To improve the texture of the skin that has been roughened and thinned out by UV radiation, we perform treatments including chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser peels. The procedures helps to encourage skin cell renewal — smoothening, lightening and encouraging collagen turnover,” says Dr Lee. However, both Dr Aw and Dr Lee say that if you can’t avoid the sun, conscientious prevention is best. “You can put on a large hat or wear protective clothes, but the best prevention measure is regular application of a good sunscreen,” Dr Aw says. A good sunscreen should have sun protection factor (SPF) of at least above 15. SPF is a measurement of the amount of UVB protection. The higher the number, the greater the protection. If you’re already showing signs of photoageing, use a sunscreen that is above SPF 30 and apply it generously over your body, says Dr Aw. SPF only indicates UVB protection. The sunscreen must also have adequate UVA protection, so always read the label before you make a purchase.
Better safe than sorry
“Apply sunscreen all over your body, including the ears, nape of your neck if you have short hair, and feet. It is also important to apply sunscreen on the unexposed parts of the body as some thin clothing will not yield similar protection,” advises Dr Lee. “People often neglect the lips and eyelids. Proper protection will delay the loss of collagen in the lips and the laxity of the upper eyelids.” Sun protection practices should be established as habits early in life as much of the damage to your skin may be happening before you are even aware of it. Children are the most vulnerable as their skin is thinner and more sensitive. As much as 80 per cent of a person’s lifetime exposure to skin-‐damaging UV rays occurs by age 18.
Jul-Sep 27
AGEING WELL
SLATHER ON THE SUNSCREEN!
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So now that you know sunscreen should be your new BFF (Best Friend Forever), how much and how often should you apply it?
How much sunscreen should you wear? Apply 1 or 2 fingers of sunscreen per zone (use index and middle fingers)
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Divide your body into 11 zones 1. Face, head and neck 2. Upper back 3. Left hand, forearm, upper arm, shoulder 4. Chest 5. Right hand, forearm, upper arm, shoulder 6. Torso 7. Left knee and thigh 8. Right knee and thigh 9. Lower back 10. Left foot and shin 11. Right foot and shin
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Sunscreen with SPF 15 and UVA gives 15
2 fingers
1 finger
2h
45mins
15 mins
of protection (ADEQUATE)
of protection (OPTIMAL)
How often should you reapply sunscreen?
What if it’s cloudy? Cloud Cover
Reflections
Altitude 2000m 30% 1500m 20%
apply 2 fingers of sunscreen
-30min
Enter sun
reapply 1 finger of sunscreen
+30min
reapply 1 finger of sunscreen
1000m 10%
Thick clouds reduce UV radiation by 80–99%
Different surfaces reflect UV, so apply... Fresh snow Sea foam Dry sand
80% more 25% more 20% more
Grass
10% more
Water
10% more
Source: British Medical Journal,Norwegian Institute for Air Research, World Health Organization, data: http://bit.ly/sunscreensmoke, InformationIsBeautiful.net
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WELLNESS FOR ALL
At 2000m above sea level UV radiation can be 30% more intense, so... At 2000m: apply 30% more At 1500m: apply 20% more At 1000m: apply 10% more