Summer Holiday Sun Safety Summer Holidays are here and all of us are excited to grab our towels and bathing suits and head for the beach or the swimming pool. The sun is our friend and we are all ready to tap into its energy to recharge our body, mind and spirit. The skin is the biggest organ and our armour keeping our bodies safe from the outside elements. A healthy skin ensures a healthy body. Skin can differ in texture, colour and other specific and zonal properties. Protecting the skin should be a daily routine. Limit sun damage and exposure prior to and after any treatment to prevent exaggerated inflammatory responses. Skin is exposed to visible light (HEV), Infrared Rays (IR), UVA and UVB. These rays penetrate to different depths of the skin where it may produce harmful effects such as: • Erythema and actinic damage (sunburn) • Stimulate pigmentation • Aggravate allergies • Cellular oxidation • Premature aging • DNA damage • Photosensitivity • Eye damage • Skin cancer
Solar protection can be formulated with physical, chemical and biological filters, which will either reflect or absorb the rays, or block the free radicals from the oxidative stress. Increasing the presence of the heat shock proteins (HSP) can effectively protect the collagen networks and promote type 1 collagenesis, which ensures the elasticity, flexibility and consistency of the skin. UVA increases the presence of collagenase which is the enzyme that degrades fibres and weakens tissue.
Photoprotection depends on: • Skin type (dry, oily or sensitive)
• Skin colour - lighter skin needs higher protection factor • When the perception of radiation is lower - at sea,
mountains or windy, cloudy days • Facial area needs higher protection as skin is thinner and more sensitive to radiation • Season of year • Pharmacological photosensitising treatments • Medical aesthetic treatments that can sensitise the skin These factors should be considered when choosing a sunscreen. A sunscreen which incorporates all three of these aspects and maintains an optimum balance between efficacy and cosmetics. The Mesoptroech sunscreen range from Mesoestetic provides an excellent
selection of sunscreens that address most of the factors mentioned.
Safety tips:
• Apply sufficient quantity sunscreen, 30 minutes before
exposure (2ml/cm2) • Use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 50 on the face • Reapply after every two hours, especially after drying off with a towel after swimming or sweating • Avoid midday hours 11:00 to 16:00 • Make sunglasses your favourite accessory • Wear a hat Sunscreen should be part of your daily skin routine, whether you go out into the sun or stay indoors. Some research shows that even prolonged exposure to cellphone, computer and television screens can lead to premature skin aging and pigmentation. Our skin is our most precious garment as we wear it everyday. It’s a life investment. Dr. Sebastiaan Pretorius Hello Cape Town December 2021 l
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