Whether you are traveling around the world or relaxing at home, a safe, healthy vacation will add to your enjoyment. Here are some health and safety tips to keep in mind when planning your summer vacation.
The Dark Side of Summer Sun
Sunbathing is a favorite summer activity—but perhaps it shouldn’t be. In fact, sunbathing has only been popular during this century. Why be wary of acquiring a tan? First, sunburn may ruin your vacation. In addition, it is now thought that the long-term effect of severe sunburn may be an increased likelihood of various types of skin cancer.
It is far better to prevent sunburn than to deal with it after the fact. There is relatively little that you can do for sunburn; cold compresses or cool baths may relieve discomfort. A steroid-containing prescription lotion or a 1% hydrocortisone cream may also be beneficial. Aspirin or acetaminophen can be used to reduce fever and pain, but basically you have to wait until the burn subsides. You can, however, avoid sunburn and the resulting discomfort by protecting yourself from overexposure to the sun.
Protecting yourself from too much sun also has long-term benefits. It can help prevent premature aging of the skin and reduce your risk of skin cancers, including the serious skin cancer called melanoma. Some melanomas and superficial skin cancers have been linked to overexposure to sunlight. Ordinary skin cancers, which usually occur on body areas that are not protected from sunlight, such as the face, ears, and hands, are most common in older adults who have spent much time outdoors over many years. Some types of melanoma, however, occur on body areas that are exposed to the sun only occasionally, such as the trunk and legs, and may be associated with a history of intermittent but intense sun exposures early in life—the kind of exposure that many people experience on vacation. Thus, it pays to be particularly vigilant about children’s sun exposure.
To reduce your risk of cancer, as well as prevent sunburn, remember that moderation is the key to sun exposure—along with some well-planned protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation—UV A and UV B—are the components of sunlight that damage the skin. The UV B radiation is responsible for the burning effects of sunlight and contributes to cellular changes in skin that can lead to cancer. UV A, which once was thought to be harmless tanning rays, now is also implicated in the development of skin cancer.
Buy a good sunscreen and do not forget to use it. If your skin is sensitive to the sun, it is particularly important to seek out products with high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ratings. SPF ratings are multipliers of the skin’s exposure time before burning. For example, an SPF of 5 means that a person can stay in the sunlight without burning five times longer than he could without sunscreen. Keep in mind that the SPF rating system was developed to protect against sunburn—typically caused by UV B radiation. There is no rating system yet for UV A. Thus, by using a sunscreen that protects against only UV B one may increase his exposure to UV A. However, it is possible now to find so-called “broad spectrum” sunscreens that protect against both UV A and UV B. Look for products that contain ingredients like benzophenone, oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone—these also offer protection against UV A radiation.
An SPF rating of 15 or above is recommended. The sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied after swimming or engaging in vigorous physical activity. Even if your skin is less sensitive, you should bring a high SPF sunscreen with you on vacation for use when outdoor activities keep you in the sun for long periods of time. Once you have reached your personal sun exposure limit, switch from your usual product to one that gives you maximum protection—that is, a sunblock. These products typically contain compounds like titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Remember that cocoa butter, baby oil, and mineral oil are not sunscreens and do not protect you from the sun’s rays.
Tune in to your local weather channel to get advance notice of how intense the sun will be in your area—the UV index. The National Weather Service, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed this index. Essentially, the UV index takes into account the time of year, latitude, altitude, and forecasted amount of cloud cover to predict how much UV radiation will reach the surface of the earth at noon on a given day. The index ranges from 0-10, with 10 being the most intense. The higher the index, the more important sunscreen use will be. Also, remember that the sun’s rays are most intense (at any index level) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so plan exposure accordingly.
While a natural suntan helps to protect you from sunburn, it does not protect you from further damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. “Artificial” tans—those acquired from topical self-tanning creams—are equally unprotective. While the creams are safe for use, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying them at least one night before you plan to lie outside in the sun, and using sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun. (Note that tanning pills that are taken internally have been removed from the market and are illegal. The pills consist of huge doses of coloring materials commonly found in foods, such as carotenes. Although these pigments are safe when consumed in the small amounts present in food, they have not been shown to be safe when taken in doses large enough to discolor your skin.)
Even if you never get sunburn at home, keep the sun in mind when you travel. In tropical regions, the sunlight is intense enough to burn almost everyone. The sun’s ultraviolet radiation is also stronger at higher altitudes.
A few medicines can cause photosensitivity, making you more susceptible to the sun’s ultraviolet light; therefore, you are more likely to get sunburn. Examples of such compounds include some acne medications, oral contraceptives containing estrogen, tetracyclines, and sulfa drugs. Your doctor or pharmacist can inform you if a prescription drug is likely to cause this problem.
Although tanning parlors have been touted as the “safe way to get a tan,” their sun lamps do emit UV A radiation and can cause long-term skin damage.
Considering the long-term damage and cancer risk associated with extensive exposure to the sun, you might want to reconsider cultivating a suntan. Many health authorities now recommend that people not attempt to tan at all. Perhaps it soon will be fashionable to have healthy skin and maintain normal skin color year-round rather than deliberately subjecting the skin to harmful ultraviolet radiation.
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