Patient Education: The ideal sun protection

Sharjah-based dermatologist Dr Minal Patwardhan shines a spotlight on "miracle" drugs and
treatments every fortnight. Today: sunscreens.


The incidence of sun-induced ageing and skin cancers has been on the rise around the world.

Whether it is because of environmental changes, better means of diagnosis or change in cultural trends and movement of population cannot be pinpointed.

What is known is that it is a combination of effects of the ultraviolet and the infrared spectrum of sunlight.

The best way to combat this is prevention — sunscreens, protective covering and use of antioxidants.

Let's concentrate on sunscreens.

The world's first commercial sunscreen was developed in 1928 in the United States of America. Since then research has come up with better formulations in terms of cosmetic acceptability, hypoallergenic products etc. Today we can avail of a myriad of sunscreens to suit just about every need.

What is SPF?

SPF is defined as the ratio of time of UV exposure necessary to produce skin changes in sunscreen-protected skin as opposed to unprotected screen. Lower SPF can be used to allow a controlled tanning without burning.

Which sunscreen is ideal?

Choosing a sunscreen is dependent on the basic skin type or colour of an individual and the type of UV exposure. Obviously darker the skin colour the SPF required is lesser because protective melanin already exists. Then again if the exposure to light is quantitative then the SPF needs to be modified.

If there are sun-induced skin disorders then the sunscreen needs to be modified in terms of additives like Kojicol, Vitamin C etc.

Oily skin types and acne-prone skins need an oil-free or matt sunblock.

Sportspersons require more of a physical rather than a cosmetic sunscreen (colourful ones look good).

Sensitive skin types need hypoallergic sunblocks, but then again nothing may suit them.

Ideal usage

Sunscreens need to be used on a daily basis irrespective of whether the person goes out of the house or is in the office.

Why? No window glass filters UV light effectively. Reflection of the water or snow and cloudy weather exposes us to even more UV light.

Sunscreens need to be reapplied after three hours, after two hours if sweating occurs or while indulging in watersports.

Use a sunblock on all the exposed areas of the skin.

Reactions

To improve cosmetic acceptability of sunscreens, the ratio of reactions to the sunblocks has increased. Why? To make the sunscreen less visible, less comedogenic, less staining we have shifted from usage of physical blocking agents like Titanium Oxide, calamine to usage of sunprotecting chemicals like PABA derivatives, cinnamates, Benzophenones etc. Although these are more acceptable for daily use, a lot of patients can develop skin rashes and allergies to these products.

Also many people experience darkening of the skin or acne like breakouts after usage of sunblocks.

Ideally sun protection should start from early childhood to prevent damage to the skin. Nowadays we can avail of a variety of sunblocks, special ones for children, special ones for eyes etc.

Invest in a good sunblock and you will be a winner all the way.