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Sun Protection
1. Avoid the sun from as early as 10am to 4pm, as the ultraviolet (UV)
radiation is the strongest (or 10am to 2pm during winter). Sunscreen is
needed even during winter & cloudy days. The sun is the greatest
natural source of UV radiation & this radiation is divided into
UV-A, UV-B & UV-C. UV-A causes eye & skin problems, UV-B causes
tanning or sunburn while UV-C is absorbed by the atmosphere.
2. Wear sunglasses with full UV protection & wraparound frame. Wear
them whether or not you wear contact lenses. If you wear spectacles,
get protective lenses that can be clipped onto the spectacle frame.
3. Wear a hat with tightly-woven fabric on top with a broad brim of at least 3 to 4 inches.
4. Use an umbrella for shade. Walk under shades & use underground bridges whenever possible.
5. Apply sunscreen (SPF 30 & above) on exposed areas like the neck,
nose, cheeks, lips, eyelids, ears, shoulders & arms. Apply 15 to 30
minutes before going outdoors & re-apply often. Use generously.
6. As for clothings, hold them up to the light, the less light that
passes through, the more protection you will get. Dark-colored denims
offer good sun protection.
7. The whole idea here about sun protection is avoidance & adequate protection over all exposed areas.
8. If you have to work under the sun, wear long sleeves & long pants.
9. Children need protection too.
SPF & sunscreen .
1.SPF (Sun Protection Factor) indicates the strength of a sunscreen to
block out the sun's UV rays. It ranges from SPF 2 to SPF 60. If a
person under the sun gets a burn after 20 minutes, then with a
sunscreen of SPF 30 it would need 30 times of the 20 minutes to get a
burn. A higher number means longer protection.
2.Sunscreen, also known as suncream or sunblock, must be applied 15 to
30 minutes before stepping outdoors. Give it time to get absorbed into
the skin. Apply generously, re-apply often especially after heavy
sweating or swimming.
3.A sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection protects the skin
from a wider range of harmful rays. Water-resistant suncreens could
lose their effectiveness after about 80 minutes in the water. Do not
use sunscreen on babies under 6 months old. Sunscreen does not
guarantee one will not be at risk of skin cancer.
Skin type classification
1.TYPE I - very fair skin, burns very easily & does not tan
2.TYPE II - fair skin, burns easily & tans slightly.
3.TYPE III - burns occasionally & tans slowly.
4.TYPE IV - minimal burning & tans always.
5.TYPE V - rarely burns & tans always. Medium to heavy pigmentation.
6.TYPE VI - never burns & has a very dark tan. Heavy pigmentation.
. The lower the skin type, the higher the risk of skin cancer.
Self-tanner
1. Self-tanning lotion gives a tan without the need of the sun. The
active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) reacts with the amino acids in
the surface of the skin & turns it brown. There are no known safety
issues with DHA. . Stop using when a rash develops. . Choose
self-tanners with added natural moisturizers like aloe, essential oils,
vitamins A & E
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