Palmwoods
District News

January
1999

Page 10

Palmwoods Pharmacy says avoid excess sun

SUNBURN is a burn to the skin caused by ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The symptoms of Sunburn include red, swollen and painful skin. If the burning is severe, the skin will blister. As the skin heals the blisters will usually burst and the skin will start to peel. Cold shivers, a temperature, nausea and vomiting may be experienced.

It is advisable to protect yourself against the sun every day as damage can occur to the skin every time we go outside, even in winter and on cloudy days. Avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day (usually between 10am and 3pm), wearing protective clothing and applying a SPF15+ broad spectrum sunscreen each day to filter out the damaging UV rays may reduce the risk of Sunburn. A new category of sunscreen is available with a rating of SPF30+. It is recommended by the Australian Cancer Society that the 30+ should be used.

Remember that it is still possible to suffer from Sunburn on cloudy days in summer and foggy days in winter.

If suffering from excessive sun, the patient should move into a shaded, cool area and not expose themselves to direct sunlight again until the skin has healed. Running cool water over the Sunburn and applying a cool compress to the most affected parts can help to relieve the pain. Ice should not be directly applied as the cold may be a shock to the body and can burn skin.

As with all conditions, your Doctor is the best person to treat cases of severe Sunburn. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world, which, combined with our warm weather and outdoor lifestyle, make it important for us to protect the skin against the damaging UV rays on a daily basis, not just at the beach. It is important to consult your Doctor if you have a new skin spot or a spot which has changed in size, colour or shape.

Ask you pharmacist for advice on Sunburn.

The best advice to avoid skin damage is to stay out of the sun, especially between 10am and 3pm which is usually the hottest time of the day. Using at least an SPF15+ broad spectrum sunscreen on the skin 20 minutes before exposure to the sun, then every hour afterwards that you are in the sun will provide some protection. Applying a sunscreen does not guarantee freedom from Sunburn.

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