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Sunburn is common during the summer months. Learning to avoid them is essential to protect our skin and that of our family. The people most vulnerable to the sun are children and people with fair or very fair skin, such as blondes and redheads with light eyes. Dermatologists are responsible for promoting social awareness of the importance of sun protection measures. The incidence of skin cancer continues to rise and we know that with proper skin care we can reduce it.

What is sunburn?

Dermatologists call sunburn the reddening of the skin that appears after exposure to the sun. The symptoms are clear: red, hot and painful skin in the areas that have been exposed. The onset of these symptoms is not immediate but appears a few hours after exposure. The subsequent evolution of the sunburn is superficial peeling of the skin in the following days.

There are more severe degrees of sunburn where blisters and disappearance of the most superficial layers of the skin appear. In these cases, fever, general malaise and hydroelectrolytic alteration of the organism may appear.

What is the radiation responsible for sunburn?

There are two main types of ultraviolet radiation from the sun: UVB and UVA.

UVB radiation is almost completely absorbed in the epidermis or most superficial layer of the skin, producing the well-known sunburn.

UVA radiation is able to reach deeper regions of the skin, such as the dermis. The main danger of UVA radiation is the induction of cellular DNA mutations promoting the development of skin cancer.

Although sunburn is mainly caused by UVB radiation, both UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin cancer in the medium and long term.

5 keys to avoid sunburn:

• Exposure time: in summer never expose to direct sunlight from 12 to 16h.
• Suitable clothing: wear clothing with suitable fabric. Long sleeve shirts and long pants. The thicker and darker the fabric, the more protection it offers against the sun. There are specific brands of clothing with sunscreen. Some interesting online stores are: Platypusaustralia https://www.platypusaustralia.com, Uvskinz http://www.uvskinz.com and Coolibar http://www.coolibar.com
• Suitable accessories: hats of opaque material and wide brim and sunglasses with filter 3 or 4.
• Use topical sunscreens with SPF50+ . The first application should be generous and at least 20 minutes before exposure. Subsequently, it is recommended to apply the filter periodically every 2 hours or after each bath.
• Specific food supplements for the sun. These nutricosmetics contain antioxidants that help cells defend against the harmful effects of the sun. They should be taken at least 1h before exposure. It is recommended to start taking them from one month before exposure on a daily basis and throughout the summer.