AGEING WELL

beware

Despite its life-giving properties, too much sunlight can be damaging to the skin and can sometimes be lethal. By FAIROZA MANSOR

glare

26 WELLNESS FOR ALL

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: Getty Im

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So  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.  

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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.  

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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.

AGEING WELL

28 WELLNESS FOR ALL

Apply 1 or 2 fingers of sunscreen per zone (use index and middle fingers)

SLATHER ON THE SUNSCREEN!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?

1. Face, head and neck2. Upper back3. Left hand, forearm,

upper arm, shoulder 4. Chest5. Right hand, forearm,

upper arm, shoulder6. Torso7. Left knee and thigh8. Right knee and thigh9. Lower back 10. Left foot and shin11. Right foot and shin

Divide your body into 11 zones

15

Sunscreen with SPF 15 and UVA gives

of protection (OPTIMAL)

of protection (ADEQUATE)

2 fingers 1 finger

2 h 45mins 15 mins

Source: British Medical Journal,Norwegian Institute for Air Research, World Health Organization, data: http://bit.ly/sunscreensmoke, InformationIsBeautiful.net

How often should you reapply sunscreen?

-30min +30min

apply 2 fingers of sunscreen

Enter sun reapply 1 finger of sunscreen

reapply 1 finger of sunscreen

What if it’s cloudy?Cloud Cover

Thick clouds reduce UV radiation by

80–99%

Reflections

Fresh snow

Sea foam

Dry sand

Grass

Water

Different surfaces reflect UV, so apply...

80% more

25% more

20% more

10% more

10% more

Altitude

2000m

1500m

1000m

30%

20%

10%

At 2000m above sea level UV radiation can be 30% more

intense, so...

At 2000m: apply 30% more At 1500m: apply 20% moreAt 1000m: apply 10% more

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6

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10 11

8

9

2

1

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