- They deny, however, the theory of “solar callus”, a viral trend that tries to convince the population that the more you sunbathe, the more resistant your skin becomes to UV rays.
- The combination of sun exposure and certain drug treatments can cause skin problems, so you have to be careful and consult with specialists.
Sanitary group dermatologists Ribera They recommend progressive exposure and at times of day where the sun does not shine more strongly to adapt our skin to the sun during the holidays and avoid not only harmful sunburns, but also long-term dermatological problems derived from inadequate protection.
The hospital dermatologist Riverside Juan CardonaÓscar Suárez, explains that sun exposure should be progressive to promote a light tanning of the skin and thus avoid sunburns, since these, especially if they are repeated, increase the risk of having skin cancer."
"We must avoid the false belief that the use of a tanning booth or solarium can be beneficial to 'prepare the skin' before summer, it is something that dermatologists advise against for the general population," explains the head of the dermatology service at the hospital Ribera Povisa, Álvaro León.
Both hospital specialists from the Ribera health group categorically deny the theory of 'solar callus', a viral trend that tries to convince the population that the more you sunbathe, the more resistant your skin becomes to UV rays.
The best protection against the sun
Dr. Suárez recalls that “photoprotection has three pillars, the best known being the use of so-called photoprotectors. Two other very relevant points are: avoiding the middle hours of the day, keeping in mind the type of skin one has (phototype) and physical photoprotection by wearing a hat, t-shirts, or the shade of a good tree, umbrella or similar. ”.
Dr. León specifies that sun exposure should be avoided between 12:00 p.m. and 17:00 p.m., “so that our skin adapts naturally,” he explains. When choosing the right sunscreen, we must take into account several factors such as the geographical area in which we are located, the weather conditions and the time of day and time that we will be exposed to. “Dermatologists generally advise trying to apply a protection factor of 50+, which covers both UVA and UVB rays. It should be applied about 30 minutes before the exhibition, so it would be ideal to do it at home before leaving for the exhibition site. Then it should be reapplied at least every 2 hours, unless we sweat excessively or bathe frequently, in which case it should be replaced in less time.”
The explanation of “sun allergy”
Although many people claim to have a “sun allergy,” in reality, this is a non-specific term that does not exist as a diagnosis. “It is a fairly “generic” concept that encompasses several entities. The most frequent is the so-called Polymorphic Light Eruption. It consists of a 'skin allergy' induced by sun exposure, which generally appears at the end of spring or at the beginning of summer, is located in areas that are not exposed to light during the rest of the year and tends to recur for years. always at the same time of year. They are usually grains or vesicles, small in size, red in color and typically itchy. As the summer progresses, the skin adapts to the light and tends to disappear. To prevent its appearance, it is recommended that the first exposures be short and use photoprotector,” says Dr. Suárez.
The danger of combining drugs and sun
The combination of sun exposure and certain pharmacological treatments can cause skin problems, so you have to be careful and consult with specialists at the time of prescription or carefully reading the leaflet, as explained by both specialists.
Dr. Suárez points out that “photosensitivity is an abnormal reaction to sun exposure in areas exposed to light when taking a certain medication.” For his part, Dr. León recalls that medications such as oral contraceptives “can produce spots on the face and others that can produce photosensitivity reactions, with redness, inflammation or even true burns on the body, such as some antihypertensives or antibiotics. In these cases, photoprotection should be extreme and exposure should be avoided or reduced as much as possible.”
